The behavioural and physiological stress responses are linked to plumage coloration in the rock pigeon (Columbia livia)

Abstract

In wild vertebrates, conspicuousness often signals a high phenotypic quality and is therefore associated with fitness benefits (“the handicap principle hypothesis”). However, conspicuous individuals usually face a higher risk of predation because they are easier to detect. Therefore, conspicuous individuals are expected to modify their behavioural and their physiological stress responses to limit the negative effect of their conspicuousness on survival. We examined the link between plumage coloration and the stress response in a bird species (the rock pigeon, Columbia livia) by comparing two groups of pigeons with different plumage characteristics: ‘blue-bar’ birds (lighter birds) and ‘checker’ birds (darker birds). Specifically, we measured several behavioural and physiological components of the stress response (breath rate, corticosterone, and tonic immobility). Although breath rate did not differ between ‘checker’ and ‘blue bar’ birds, the corticosterone stress response of ‘blue-bar’ birds was greater relative to that of ‘checker’ birds. Moreover, ‘checker’ birds were more likely to initiate tonic immobility relative to ‘blue bar’ birds. Therefore, this study suggests that the behavioural and physiological stress responses of wild birds may differ according to their plumage coloration. To conclude, our results suggest that plumage colorations may be functionally linked to specific behavioural and physiological sensitivities to stressors.