Secrets in the eyes of Black Oystercatchers: a new sexing technique

• Published in: Journal of field ornithology Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 215 - 223
• Main Authors: Guzzetti, Brian M., Talbot, Sandra L., Tessler, David F., Gill, Verena A., Murphy, Edward C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.06.2008; Blackwell Publishing
• Subjects: Animal morphology; Animal wings; Birds; Discriminant analysis; discriminant function; Discriminants; eye flecks; Female animals; Gender discrimination; Haematopus bachmani; HINT-W/HINT-Z; Male animals; molecular sexing; oystercatchers; Polymerase chain reaction; shorebird; Tarsus

Sexing oystercatchers in the field is difficult because males and females have identical plumage and are similar in size. Although Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are sexually dimorphic, using morphology to determine sex requires either capturing both pair members for comparison or using...