Comments on: Cross-dressing raptors avoid violence

By: Yoder

Yoder — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:32:33 +0000

This looks like another case of Joan Roughgarden's idea that a lot of traits we associate with sex are often more strongly associated with social role—that is, the "male" plumage here is really about signalling whether or not the individual is territorial. So in some sense the "female-like" plumage here may not be deceptive, but signalling to territorial males that the individual isn't interested in driving them off their turf. In another case (as Roughgarden frames it), both male and female white-throated sparrows come in "aggressive" and "nonaggressive" morphs, with similar plumage regardless of sex—and mated pairs are most successful when one partner is aggressive and the other not, regardless of which sex is the aggressive one.

By: Chris Lindsay

Chris Lindsay — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:04:22 +0000

This may be a dumb question, but if female mimic snakes are attracting males to it, then how is it getting with the females? Wouldn’t the swarming males around it be an obstacle of sorts? And I’m guessing that the amorous males aren’t inflicting any harm on the female mimic in terms of its aggression either?

By: sara

sara — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:05:45 +0000

I think that the ruff link is ruffled up; I get 404.

By: Daniel J. Andrews

Daniel J. Andrews — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:06:57 +0000

Any news if North America has any cross-dressing harriers? Sounds like something I should know myself.