Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and steroid hormones in free-living winter groups of willow tits ( Parus montanus)

Abstract

Plasma levels of LH, DHT, testosterone, and corticosterone were measured for all members in free-living winter flocks of willow tits, Parus montanus. Hormonal data were related to (1) flock size and (2) age/sex differences. The winter flock defends a large winter territory and shows a well-established social hierarchy in which adults consistently dominate first-year birds. One winter group normally consists of four individuals, two adults and two juveniles. In flocks containing four or five members juvenile willow tits had significantly higher corticosterone values than adults. In small-sized groups, containing three members, all individuals had high plasma levels of corticosterone. No other effects of flock size was found. When data were treated on an age/sex basis, i.e., flock size was not considered, juvenile females were found to have significantly higher plasma levels of testosterone than adult birds, and also significantly higher levels of DHT than juvenile males and adult females. Also, juvenile willow tits had significantly higher plasma levels of corticosterone than adult birds.