Sex-specific patterns in body condition and testosterone level changes in a territorial migratory bird: the Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

10 pagesInternational audienceThe Bluethroat Luscinia svecica is a migratory passerine that exhibits a socially monogamous pair bond and a high level of parental care. Males are territorial both when wintering and breeding whereas females are territorial only in winter. We investigated changes in body condition and testosterone levels during successive life-history stages and determined their relationships. Sex-specific patterns were observed in the variation in body condition and testosterone level. Male body condition varied mainly during the winter. It peaked at the onset of the prenuptial moult and then decreased, whereas it remained stable throughout breeding. In contrast, female body condition varied mainly during the breeding season. It increased during the prelaying stage and then abruptly decreased until fledgling provisioning. As in other monogamous and territorial passerines, testosterone levels in Bluethroat males were low during winter, increased in late winter, peaked during the prelaying stage and then decreased when provisioning young. In wintering females, territorial competition caused testosterone levels to rise. These females were able to produce territorial vocalizations and exhibit aggressive postures. Females showed higher mean testosterone levels than males when wintering whereas the opposite was observed when breeding. Our data from wintering female Bluethroats support the ‘challenge hypothesis' under which high testosterone levels are associated with periods of social instability, and testosterone can regulate female territorial behaviour during this period