Great tits flashing

[Mele]

How did I miss this last year? Pardon if someone posted it then. I've just picked up the link from a blog I follow. It's a bit tongue in cheek from National Geographic.

Flashier Great Tits Produce Stronger Sperm

Our native birds have more interesting sex lives than anything the red tops could ever discover amongst the human population.

M

[Mele]

Hmm, I thought this was really interesting research?
Avian sexual selection was the most interesting area we studied at uni. This describes a possible link between brighter feathers (more attractive to females) and more viable sperm. The male great tits with the brighter flashier yellow breasts had more circulating antioxidants, which not only correlated with brighter feathers but may also decrease free-radical damage of their sperm. Their sperm was observed to swim straighter (after stress) than less brightly breasted male tits. So they are ‘fit’, they don’t just look it.
(I’ve not read the original papers yet, just the press release).
Mel

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Mele

It is interesting Mele,I have taken the tip and I have changed the colours of my public profile accordingly!Perhaps a respray of my car next.

I wonder whether more secrets of Great Tit mojo will be revealed in time.Those lads honestly.

Again an interesting article.Maybe a bit predictable.

Jason