Working with uniquely color-marked birds, we study individual differences in components of parental care, singing behavior, and other aspects of behavior. Currently, we are testing several hypotheses to explain both the striking dichromatism and relatively large song repertoires in cardinals. Although less ornamented than males, female cardinals are quite variable in appearance.
Females also sing, which is highly unusual among female songbirds.
For these reasons, we are testing the same hypotheses to explain female ornamentation. We use DNA fingerprinting techniques to determine parentage and the presence of extra-pair fertilizations. Selected Publications 12 publications prior to 1988 Breitwisch, R. 1988. Sex differences in defence of eggs and nestlings by northern mockingbirds, Mimus polyglottos . Breitwisch, R. and J. Hudak.