Abstract
Adaptive radiation is a suitable system for the study of the (co)evolution of traits because phylogeographic constraints should be of minor importance. Adaptive radiation of beak morphology in birds is a classic example, but the evolution of other traits remains unclear. Here, using a comparative phylogenetic analysis, we studied plumage coloration in relation to terrestrial:aerial locomotion in Malagasy Couas. We hypothesized that rufous coloration would be beneficial for crypsis on the ground, and found that rufous coloration increased with the relative investment in terrestrial:aerial locomotion, measured as tarsus:wing length ratio. Terrestrial:aerial locomotion may explain the diversity of plumage coloration, at least in part.
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