ON THE FUNCTION OF SINGING AND WING-WAVING IN THE EUROPEAN STARLING STURNUS-VULGARIS

Experiments were performed using captive starlings to examine whether Starling song functions primarily in intersexual communication. Male Starlings showed a significant increase in the time spent at the nestbox, as well as in the total time spent singing, after the introduction of a female into the aviary. After the introduction of a male, only the time spent at the nestbox increased significantly. Wing-waving (a visual display associated with singing) and singing in the nest box occurred only after introduction of a female. Our results strongly suggest that Starling song functions largely in male-female interactions. The primary function of wing-waving seems to be mate attraction. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.