Abstract
Widowbirds (Euplectes, Ploceidae) are sexually dimorphic weaverbirds in which the males have elongated tails that show much interspecific variation. One possible cause of such variation is geographic variation in cost due rainfall making it more difficult to fly. This hypothesis was tested by comparing tail length to the modal and maximum rainfall levels in which the populations occur. Overall, there was a significant negative relationship between maximum rainfall and tail length, and a similar but non-significant trend with modal rainfall. Phylogenetic effects were partially controlled for by testing for the same relationships within two species groups and across species groups. In all cases, the trends were as in the overall test, suggesting that phylogenetic effects alone cannot explain the relationship. These results suggest that geographic variation in costs could explain inter-population variation in sexually selected ornaments. Other reasons for the relationship with rainfall are also possible.
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