Less Is More, for Female Cowbirds: Findings Contradict Sexual Selection Theory

A new study found that the theory of sexual selection may not hold true for every species. It is usually thought that the most impressive and beautiful male will win over the female, but this is not the case with the brown-headed cowbird. The study found that females were more likely to choose males with more modest displays. Those males who had less intense the wing spreading, feather puffing, and bowing during a display, the more sexually interested the female would be. There are a few reasons detailed in the article why this could make sense.

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By Brad Reimann