Early arriving males wait longer for a mate than later arrivals: the case of a migratory monogamous passerine bird species

Cezary Mitrus

doi:10.1007/s10164-017-0531-y

Abstract

Individuals that arrive earlier on the breeding grounds may obtain many advantages but they also have to spend time waiting for a mate. I studied the waiting times of male red-breasted flycatchers Ficedula parva, a small, migratory, sexually dichromatic passerine bird species under natural conditions (Białowieża National Park, Poland) in relation to year, arrival time, age of male and morphological parameters. The length of waiting time was dependent on males’ arrival time. The males which arrived later waited a shorter time for females than earlier arrivals. In some years older males spent more time waiting for mates than younger males, but in other years they waited for shorter times. A significant interaction between age of male and year was also observed. Despite the significantly earlier arrival of older males, the waiting time was not related to male age. The waiting time was also not related to body biometric parameters of the male. Despite waiting longer, early male red-breasted flycatchers have an advantage over later arrivals given this greater chance of mating.

Highlights

The earlier arrival of males at breeding areas relative to females is a common phenomenon observed in many migrating bird species (Morbey and Ydenberg 2001; Gunnarsson et al 2004; Kokko et al 2006; Newton 2008; Harnos et al 2015)
Many studies have concentrated on factors influencing male arrival time at breeding territories (Møller 1994; Kokko 1999; Mitrus 2007, Pulido 2007) and how this relates to mating success (Aebischer et al 1996; Lozano et al 1996; Kokko 1999), but there is a lack of studies relating to the time that males spend from arrival to mating
It is interesting to consider what factors determine how long males wait for mates: is it age, arrival time or phenotypic traits of individuals? Such questions can addressed in long-distance migratory bird species like the red-breasted flycatcher Ficedula parva, where males arrive at the breeding areas before the females

Summary

Introduction

The earlier arrival of males at breeding areas relative to females (protandry) is a common phenomenon observed in many migrating bird species (Morbey and Ydenberg 2001; Gunnarsson et al 2004; Kokko et al 2006; Newton 2008; Harnos et al 2015). Most studies related to protandry have concentrated on the advantages with less attention being paid to the time that males wait for females and the factors related to this (Møller 1994; Kokko 1999; Morbey and Ydenberg 2001; Møller 2004). After arrival, while they wait for mates, males spend energy occupying, advertising and defending their territory (Morbey and Ydenberg 2001).

Discussion

Findings

Compliance with ethical standards