Behavioral responses of males to estradiol-treated females in the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

We investigated the effects of estradiol-treated females on the behavior of male budgerigars. In comparison to control females, females given implants of estradiol showed elevated nest behavior and darker cere color, which are characteristics of breeding females. After we confirmed the efficacy of e...

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Published inJournal of ethology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 23 - 28
Main Authors EDA-FUJIWARA, Hiroko, SUZUKI, Makoto, KIMURA, Takeji
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Tokyo Springer 2003
Subjects
Animal ethology
Aves
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Vertebrata
Laboratory study
Vertebrata
Courtship feeding
Sexual behavior
Male
Pair formation
Aves
Sex steroid hormone
Courtship behavior
Estradiol
Breeding behavior
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Summary:We investigated the effects of estradiol-treated females on the behavior of male budgerigars. In comparison to control females, females given implants of estradiol showed elevated nest behavior and darker cere color, which are characteristics of breeding females. After we confirmed the efficacy of estradiol treatment on behavior and morphology, each female was paired with a male mate. Males paired with estradiol-treated females showed more courtship behavior (auditory and visual display, and courtship feeding) to their mates than males paired with control females. These data indicate that budgerigar females with a high estrogen level enhance males' courtship behavior. Since males did not show response to estradiol-treated females soon after females were introduced, effects of estradiol-treated female budgerigars may be mediated by the endocrine system, rather than wholly by the nervous system, of males.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0289-0771
1439-5444
DOI:10.1007/s10164-002-0075-6