Winter Androgen Levels and Wattle Size in Male Common Pheasants

Abstract

AbstractWe report the results of morphological and hormonal measurements of 101 male Common Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) captured during winter and at the beginning of the breeding season in order to identify correlates of ornament size. Androgen levels in January were bimodally distributed with one group with low hormone levels and a second group with high levels. In February, log transformed androgen levels were normally distributed, with all males showing values similar to the high-level group in January. Wattle size was positively correlated with androgens in January but not in February, suggesting that this male trait can indicate the ability of quality males to start earlier androgen production.