FEMALE CHOICE IN THE SEDGE WARBLER, ACROCEPHALUS-SCHOENOBAENUS - MULTIPLE CUES FROM SONG AND TERRITORY QUALITY

Recent models of animal signalling emphasize the evolution of complex displays containing 'multiple messages'. A variety of potential cues u sed in female choice were investigated during a three-year field study of the sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Twelve possible cue s were investigated, and three were found to have a significant influe nce upon pairing date. Two were different measures of song (repertoire size and song flighting) and one a measure of territory (territory si ze). Repertoire and territory size had a significant influence on pair ing date in all three years, and song-flighting in two. The three cues were not intercorrelated and so had independent effects upon pairing date. We suggest that females select males upon multiple cues as these reflect different aspects of male and territory quality.