【英语时差8，16】为什么雄鸟如此多娇

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Don: Ummm! I dunno, Ya?l. So drivers can see it when it crosses the road.

Y: Nice try, but males birds are more brightly colored and have more ornamented¹ feathers than females for two reasons. First, so they can compete with each other for territory. Second, so they can attract mates.

D: How do they do that?

Y: Males use feather color to warn potential rivals that they occupy a piece of territory. Red-winged black bird males flash hidden red feathers on their upper wings called epaulets. Scientists have found that when a male's epaulets are dyed black, he is more likely to lose his territory.

When it's time to mate, male birds show off their plumage to attract a mate. In experiments, female house finches prefer to mate with redder males while female pea fowl² like males with big tails. Scientists think females use male feather color and condition as a way to determine if he is healthy or will take good care of their nestlings. For example, redder cardinal³ males make better fathers by taking on more of the feeding responsibility.

D: So, fancy feathers mean a bird's healthy?

Y: Yes. That is the case with the Pied Flycatcher where males can be colored brown to black. Scientists have found that the more food a nestling receives, the bigger and healthier it is, and the blacker its color. Light feather color can also indicate disease. Chickens with a parasite⁴ known as coccidia are less colorful than healthy birds.

D: I understand now. If I want to attract the ladies, I should wear red Hawaiian shirts.  

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