Summary: White et al. (2010)

Morphological and behavioural traits can be influenced by the social environment and, if selected for, these traits may confer specific reproductive advantages to individuals. White et al. (2010) examined whether exposure to more complex social environments improves competitive skills, that could lead to increased reproductive success in adult brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). They housed some birds in flocks where group members regularly changed (dynamic flocks) and housed other birds in flocks where group members remained constant (stable flocks). They then measured singing and courtship behaviours for all males within these groups. White et al. (2010) found that males housed in dynamic flocks had larger and more variable singing networks and also showed a higher mating success than males housed in stable flocks. Their results suggest that social skills are extremely flexible and indicate a link between reproductive success and social behaviour and competency.