Reduced ornamentation became elaborated in benign environments in a bird species

Abstract

Many empirical studies have focused on highly-ornamented species to identify ecological factors that maintain the ornamentation or favour its exaggeration. By contrast, although reduction or loss of ornamentation appears to be widespread, species with reduced/lost ornamentation and its relationship with ecological factors are rarely focused on. Here, based on data collected over four years, we studied outermost tail feather length, i.e. a well-known sexual ornamentation in this clade, in relation to roosting location in the Pacific swallow Hirundo tahitica during winter. In contrast to congeners, this species has inconspicuous tail ornamentation, i.e. very shallowly forked tails with vestigial streamers, providing a rare opportunity to study the ecological factors driving reduced ornamentation. We found that Pacific swallows mainly roost in old nests under bridges over rivers, which resemble their original roosting sites, but some roost in old nests under the eaves of houses above the ground. Individuals roosting under the eaves of houses had significantly longer outermost (but not central) tail feathers than those roosting under bridges. Individuals roosting under the eaves of houses were heavier and showed lower physiological stress, and thus might better endure the maintenance cost, favouring ornament elaboration. Because we controlled for the effects of sex and age, these factors would not confound the observed pattern. Reduced ornamentation, as found in Pacific swallows roosting under their original roosting sites, could become elaborated in benign environments (i.e., under eaves, here), stressing the importance of balance between the costs and benefits of ornamentation.