Asian Glossy Starling: Juvenile sex
Posted by BESG on 12 June 08, Thursday
Contributed by Adrian Lim
In May 2008, Adrian Lim a.k.a. wmw998 documented a pair of juvenile Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis) copulating, or so it seems (below).
“Are they actually copulating or just experimenting as with most juveniles?” he wonders.
Birds learn from observing the adults, and this includes copulation. So obviously, the juveniles were imitating the adults when the older juvenile mounted the younger. The age difference can be seen in the eye colour.
There are actually reports of juvenile birds playing at copulation or practicing at it. It is doubtful whether at that age these birds can differentiate the sexes, let alone being sexually matured.
The colour of the eye comes from the iris that surrounds the black pupil. In some species, eye colour changes as the bird ages. In others, the sexes differ in eye colour. In yet other birds, the eye colour of the juvenile is duller that that of the adult. In bulbuls, the eye colour varies with the species.
How eye colour affects social behaviour has not been extensively studied. But some ornithologists believe that this can reflect different social positions and, like plumage, colour may play a role in social interaction.
In Asian Glossy Starling, however, the juvenile has a different plumage from that of the adult. So the social status of adult and juvenile can be easily distinguished. However, among the juveniles, the eye colour of the younger juvenile is brownish, distinctly different from that of the older juvenile (above) and adult. Here again, there is obviously a distinction between young and old juveniles.
All images by Adrian Lim.
Referencs:
Clark, G. A. Jr. (2004). [‘Form and function: The external bird.’]. Pp. 3.1-3.70 in Podulka, S., Rohrbaugh, R.W. Jr & Bonney, R. (eds.) Handbook of bird biology. Ithaca, NY: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
This post is a cooperative effort between www.naturepixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.
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Categories: Miscellaneous
Comment by plasmabstract
Made Thursday, 12 of June , 2008 at 1:02 pm
So here’s a question - do birds also use sex as a form of social bond besides for reproduction?
Comment by YC
Made Thursday, 12 of June , 2008 at 2:36 pm
Good question. But I am not qualified to answer! Anyone?
Comment by Haniman
Made Thursday, 12 of June , 2008 at 4:29 pm
At the risk of simplifying the facts,I would think the act of mounting another individual bird of a sub-standard age i.e a juvenile, shows how birds or any other species make their present felt in the social hierarchy. This happens often in many primate groups and big cats like lions as they are very sociable as compared to most cats which are solitary by nature. It has been observed that usually the same sex specimens will mount each other.This behaviour is a an act of subordination. That the one mounting is of a higher hierarchy and wishes this fact be known to the rest who is of lesser social standing within the group.I doubt there are any penetration in the act itself and even so,not fertile enough to produce offsprings.But being able to pin another individual puts the one pinning in a higher position within the group.
My thoughts =)
Comment by YC
Made Saturday, 14 of June , 2008 at 11:19 am
Thanks Haniman. You’ve hit the nail on the head.
Comment by Haniman
Made Monday, 16 of June , 2008 at 12:48 am
No worries YC. Always glad to share =)
