Great-tailed grackles, Quiscalus mexicanus, prey on fiddler crabs, Uca beeb
ei, either by running straight at them or by running past them then angling
sharply back to strike. Grackles that used angled runs caught only males a
nd were twice as successful as birds that used straight runs and caught equ
al numbers of males and females. Why do grackles that use angled runs catch
only males? Males were not differentially available, nor did grackles pref
er them to females in choice tests. Fewer crabs entered their burrows when
we moved a model predator past them than when we moved it directly towards
them and crabs allowed the model to get closer when it passed then returned
to strike. Although crabs may take more risks when birds use angled runs,
the sexes did not differ in their escape responses. Hence, differential ris
k taking cannot explain male-biased predation by birds using angled runs. W
e suggest that males, with their large claws and lighter colours, are more
conspicuous than cryptic females. When a bird runs past then turns to dash
back at a crab it may be able to keep track of a male much better than a fe
male. Indeed, grackles missed all females they struck at using angled runs.
Hence, males may be conspicuous and preferred prey to birds using angled r
uns. Males' enlarged claws, bright colours and other sexually selected trai
ts may increase male predation rate in this context. (C) 2001 The Associati
on for the Study of Animal Behaviour.