QUALITY OF FOOD SOURCE AFFECTS FEMALE VISITATION AND DISPLAY RATES OF MALE BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS

Abstract

Abstract I studied the relationships among energy availability, female visitation rates, and male display rates in Broad-tailed Hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus). Feeders contained 10%, 20%, or 30% sucrose solutions; female visitation rates and male hummingbird display rates were measured. Display rates of male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and visitation rates of females depended on the quality of the food source. The fact that male display rates matched female visitation rates provides further evidence that dive displays play a role in courtship. More work needs to be done to determine if the relationship between resource quality, female visitation, and male display rates shows a threshold contingent on food availability. La Calidad de los Recursos Alimenticios Afecta las Tasas de Visita de las Hembras y de Despliegues de Cortejo de los Machos en Selasphorus platycercus Resumen. Evalue las relaciones entre la cantidad de energia disponible, la tasa de despliegues de cortejo por parte de los machos y la...