Sexual Selection and the Barn Swallow

This study constitutes an empirical text of the theoretical predictions, and should be of special interest to students on behavioural and evolutionary ecology. The main theme is that sexual selection is important, and affects many aspects of animal life such as mating behaviour and parental care.

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An important empirical test of the theoretical predictions of sexual selection theory, this book presents a long-term field study of the monagamous barn swallow. By using information on behaviour, ecology, morphology, genetics, and evolution, the book reviews this theory and its two components: male-male competition and female choice.

The selective advantages of a long tail are investigated for this common bird, demonstrating such effects as mating behaviour, copulation behaviour, migration strategies, and host-parasite interactions.

A rich informative text which clearly elucidates the mechanisms and consequences of sexual selection.