Version 2 2024-06-13, 09:37Version 2 2024-06-13, 09:37
Version 1 2016-01-22, 10:43Version 1 2016-01-22, 10:43
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-13, 09:37authored byEP van Rooij, LA Rollins, CE Holleley, SC Griffith
Although the majority of passerine birds are socially monogamous, true genetic monogamy is rare, with extra-pair paternity (EPP) occurring in almost 90% of surveyed socially monogamous species. We present the first molecular data on the genetic breeding system of the long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda, a grass finch endemic to the tropical northern savannah of Australia. Although the species forms socially monogamous pair bonds during the breeding season, we found that extra-pair males sired 12.8% of 391 offspring, in 25.7% of 101 broods. Our findings provide only the second estimate of extra-pair paternity in the estrildid finch family.