References & Sources  -  September 5, 1998

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What a black blob tells other birds

The size of a black patch on the chest feathers of siskins tips off other birds as to who will be a greedy dining companion.

 

References:

Senar, J.C., and M. Camerino. 1998. Status signalling and the ability to recognize dominants: An experiment with siskins (Carduelis spinus). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 265(Aug. 22):1515.

 

Sources:

Juan Carlos Senar
Museum of Zoology
Ap. 593
08080 Barcelona
Spain

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