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First published online December 2, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 4593-4598 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01949

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Male song quality affects circulating but not yolk steroid concentrations in female canaries (Serinus canaria)

Rupert C. Marshall^1,*, Bernd Leisler², Clive K. Catchpole¹ and Hubert Schwabl³

¹ School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK
² Max Planck Research Centre for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
³ Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA

^* Author for correspondence at present address: Zoology Department, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden (e-mail: rupert.marshall{at}zool.gu.se)

Accepted 25 October 2005

Male song complexity is a sexually selected trait found in many songbirds, including strains of the domestic canary. Studies on several species have shown that male song can affect the hormonal state of females and may also influence concentrations of maternal hormones in the yolk of their eggs. In this study, we show that the level of circulating androgens and oestrogens of female canaries, as measured in faeces, varies with the quality of male song to which they are exposed. The female-perceived quality of male canary song depends on the production of special `sexy syllables' to which females respond with more sexual displays. Using playback of synthetic song we show that females hearing songs with sexy syllables have higher levels of faecal testosterone than control females hearing songs without them. However, unlike previous studies on the canary, we found no evidence that such females laid eggs with more testosterone (or other steroids) in their egg yolks. We discuss these results in relation to the evolution of male signalling and maternal investment strategies.

Key words: song, faecal steroid, HVC, female choice, mate quality, yolk hormone

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