Summary: Atagan & Forstmeier (2012)

 Male ornamentation is suggested to be indicative of physical quality, particularly over long periods of time. In contrast, behavioural displays, such as many courtship displays of birds, may be influenced by more by body condition over short-term periods. Male courtship rate in Zebra finches Taenipygia guttata may honestly reflect a male's physical condition. However, little support for condition changes over the short term have been found. Atagan & Forstmeier (2012) investigated whether courtship rate of male zebra finches is influenced by nutritional enrichment, which males prefer when given the choice. In contrast to expectations, male courtship rate was decreased by consumption of a high-protein diet, suggesting that males have either acquired a maladaptive strategy in captivity (preference for high-protein diet not a natural tendency) or that condition may be increased by nutritional enrichment, and courtship rate is not directly dependent on body condition. Atagan & Forstmeier (2012) suggest that the presence of improved food quality (as occurs during the summer) may cause males to shift towards parental care (which generally occurs in the warmer summer months) and away from courtship (which occurs prior to breeding).