Female European starlings increase their copulation solicitation rate when faced with the risk of polygyny

Article Abstract:

Polygynous female birds increase their rate of copulation solicitation to distract their male partners from prospective females. A study on European starlings shows that paired females try to prevent or delay their partners' mating by engaging them in repeated courtship and copulation. Although they take an aggressive stance towards new females, they are not aggressive towards their mates when they start courting new females. Males actively intervene to dissipate conflicts among female members.

Sexual behavior, Analysis, Courtship of animals, Mating behavior, Polygamy

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Song learning in captive European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

Article Abstract:

Changes in the repertoires and other song characteristics of captive male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are investigated. Results show that starlings are open-ended learners, but their ability to learn new song types decreases with age. Moreover, the captive-hatched males often copied precise sequences of different song types from the adult males. This suggests that starlings can copy heterospecific imitations from conspecifics in an aviary.

Birdsongs, Sound production by animals, Animal vocalizations

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Extra-pair paternity and intraspecific brood parasitism in the European starling, Sturnus vulgaris: evidence from DNA fingerprinting

Article Abstract:

An experiment exploring the phenomenon of extra-pair paternity and intraspecific brood parasitism in the European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, was conducted using evidence gathered from DNA fingerprinting. Results from behavioral observations indicate a low level of intraspecific brood parasitism as confirmed by DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting revealed a high incidence of extra-pair paternity.

Sexual behavior in animals, Animal sexual behavior, Parasitic birds, Sturnus vulgaris, Common starling

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