The effect of leg band symmetry on female–male association in zebra finches

Abstract

Studies have shown that female zebra finches,Taeniopygia guttata, prefer to associate with males wearing symmetric leg band combinations. In this study, I used a four-choice chamber apparatus to investigate this preference, and to determine whether it is influenced by band coloration. I created band combinations by banding males with four leg bands. The symmetrical combinations consisted of two bands on each leg; the asymmetrical combinations consisted of three bands on one leg and one band on the other leg. For each of the symmetry treatments, all four bands were either light green or red. Females did not spend significantly more time associating with males wearing symmetrical bands or with males wearing red bands. The duration of male–female associations was not influenced by an interaction between symmetry category and band colour treatment. None of 10 females spent the most time with males with red symmetrical bands.