Directed song of male zebra finches as a predictor of subsequent intra- and interspecific social behaviour and pair formation

Abstract

Zebra finch males may, depending on early experience with con-specifics and/or with Bengalese finches, develop a preference for either conspecific or Bengalese finch females. This preference is usually measured in choice tests, using directed song of the males as a criterion. So far, experiments are lacking on whether preferences measured in this way are indicative of social and aggressive behaviour and pair formation when zebra finch males are given the opportunity to show these behaviour patterns. Therefore, the preference of 19 males was first measured in choice tests. Thereafter the males were placed individually in a cage with one zebra finch and one Bengalese finch female and observations on social behaviour were made (free choice experiments). There appeared to be a clear relationship between the preference as measured in the choice tests and both the later orientation of social behaviour to the two females, as well as pair formation shown in the free choice experiment. Directed song during choice tests therefore is a useful predictor of other social behaviour and of pair formation.