MALE QUALITY AND SONG REPERTOIRES IN WESTERN MEADOWLARKS (STURNELLA-NEGLECTA)

The relationship between song repertoire size and measures of male qua lity and reproductive success was examined in a Manitoba population of western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). Repertoire size correlated positively with the singer's wing length but not with mass or territor y size. Males with larger repertoires tended to pair earlier and males with higher pairing success had larger repertoires. Repertoire size c orrelated positively with fledging success independently of pairing su ccess. As suggested for other species, repertoire size might serve as a signal to females of male quality. We suggest mechanisms by which th is signalling system is maintained.