Juvenile phase in weaver finch (Ploceus philippinus)

Abstract
The photosensitive weaver bird (Ploceus philippinus) has a long juvenile phase when, while the bird is insensitive to photostimulation, the gonads respond to injected gonadotrophins. It is suggested that the immature status of the hypothalamo/hypophyseal complex may be responsible for the presence of a long pre‐photoresponsive phase in this bird.