Feeding consequences of the dominance status in Great Tit Parus major groups

Abstract

The feeding consequences of the dominance status in Great Tits feeding on sunflower seeds at artificial feeders were studied. Behavioural and morphometrie correlates of feeding success and dominance status were examined. Analyses with colour-ringed Great Tits revealed marked individual differences in feeding success. Individuals with a high feeding success had a high dominance status, wide breast stripe plumage, and short seedhandling and waiting time. Breast stripe width best explained the variation in individual feedingsuccess. Watching and avoidance, as indicated by long handling andwaitingtimes, decreased the feeding success of subordinate Great Tits . An analysis confined to birds less than one year old indicated that males succeeded better than females. Ahigh dominance status was associated with a wide breast stripe, and breast stripe plumage presumably signalled an individual's dominance status in the groups . This status signalling system, however, did not operate when only first-year males were considered .