Heritability of Muscle Size in Eastern Kingbirds

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Abstract
Heritability of the size of a hindlimb muscle, M. flexor cruris lateralis (FCRL), was analyzed in Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) to assess the potential of the trait to be influenced by evolutionary processes. Size of the FCRL appears to be highly heritable, although the birds are directionally asymmetrical and this asymmetry suggests that muscle size probably is not presently under rigid selective control. Heritabilities were recalculated after the removal of cases of doubtful parentage; the results lend support to a hypothesis of "quasi nest-parasitism" for Eastern Kingbirds.