Some Problems and Approaches in Avian Mate Choice

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Abstract
Most studies of mate choice in birds consider questions such as the existence of mate choice, which traits are preferred, and how the preferences evolved. In order to answer these questions, it is necessary to distinguish between pairs of key processes such as dominance and choice, assortative mating and type preference, or male choice and female choice. We review these and other difficulties in the study of avian mate choice. As an illustration of methodological issues, we discuss our work on Pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus). Males that were successful in mate-choice experiments were more brightly colored and had large testes, but were not necessarily larger or dominant. Preferred females were large, dominant, and had thicker bills. In free-living populations, smaller than average males and larger than average females lived longer. Pairs composed of small males and large females had sons with higher fecundities and greater survivorship. We suggest that many ornithologists could combine their long-term field observations with controlled experiments to profitably study mate choice.