Year of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Major

Environmental Studies

Directing Professor

Morgan Wilson

Abstract

Foraging efficiency may be enhanced by flashing patches of white wing and tail feathers and has been documented in several avian species. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos, NOMO) exhibit this “wing-flashing” (WF) behavior while foraging, during displays, and in response to predators. In NOMOs, WF has been hypothesized to increase foraging success, but previous findings are inconclusive. To further investigate the biological role(s) of WF behavior in NOMOs, the ventral surface of white primary feathers of male NOMOs were artificially darkened, and the foraging and provisioning rates of undarkened (control) males and their mates were compared. While foraging, undarkened males performed significantly more prey strikes than darkened males; however, when foraging without WF, prey strike success did not differ between darkened and undarkened males. There was no clear effect of darkening on the provisioning rate of males. Body condition (mass/tarsus3) of experimental nestlings was similar to control nestlings, but experimental nestlings had significantly lower mass and had shorter tarsus lengths compared to control nestlings. Additionally, experimental nestlings fledged significantly later than control nestlings. These findings suggest that artificial darkening of white wing patches of NOMO males may negatively impact the quality of parental care, contributing to lower mass, shorter tarsus, and a longer time to fledge for nestlings.

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