Sexual size dimorphism in birds from Southern Veracruz, Mexico. II. Thryothorus maculipectus and Henicorhina [leucosticta] prostheleuca Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Two monochromatic tropical wrens (Thryothorus maculipectus and Henicorhina [leucosticta] prostheleuca) were examined using external measurements of museum specimens. Although the sexes show overlap in all measured characters, males were larger than females on average. Degrees of dimorphism are described, and discriminant equations are presented as a method for identifying the sex of individuals. The success of these equations for sexing jackknifed samples varies from 93-97%. Clues to aging are offered and juvenal plumages are summarized. Recognition of the retention of some juvenal plumage well into adulthood in H. "l." prostheleuca raises questions of species limits in Middle American groups of H. "leucosticla.".

published proceedings

  • Journal of Field Ornithology

author list (cited authors)

  • Winker, K., Klicka, J. T., & Voelker, G.

complete list of authors

  • Winker, K||Klicka, JT||Voelker, G

publication date

  • March 1996