Sexual selection and colour signals
Colour displays play a crucial role in sexual selection, attracting mates and deterring rivals. Research focuses on the crimson finch, examining the significance of male bright red colouration and the mechanisms behind their aggressive behaviour in this highly social species.
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Elaborate colour displays are often used in sexual selection to attract mates or repel males. We are interested in the function and significance of colour displays in a range of systems, including birds and lizards. One current project is on the crimson finch (locally known as the ‘red devil’), which is a highly aggressive yet highly colonial breeding finch. This work is looking at the function of bright red colouration in males, as well as the underlying mechanisms and function of overt aggression in this group-living species.