Repeatability of mate choice in female red jungle fowl

Abstract

We staged female mate choice trials between pair of males and repeated the process for each female to determine the repeatability of female preference for male in red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) in the first and second half of the breeding season. We measured male morphological traits (the size and color of the comb and the brightness of the hackle feathers) that female are known to use in choosing a mate. In the first half of the breeding season, females showed repeatability in their choices of mate with respect to the male's comb characters. Females did not show a repeatability preference with respect to male hackle feather, and we found no repeatedly of mate choice in the second half of the season. Females seem to primarily look at the male's comb when choosing a mate, and other ornaments seem only a secondary importance.