The size of the brain determines the “level ofsex appealthat the males give off in the avian world “, according to a study by the University of Maryland (United States). Its authors have concluded that thesmart birds, which show that they are easier to cope with difficulties, get food and take care of their young, “attract more females of their species, who evaluate their behavior during courtship.”
The research, published in the journalAnimal Behaviour, wanted to find out if cognitive performance influenced thesexual behavior of birds. To do this, a team of North American scientists, led by Professor Jason Keagy, prepared a series of intelligence tests with the aim of measuring thebrain power of birdsand separate them by levels.
The species chosen for the analysis was a class ofsatin bird of paradise, Ptilonorhynchus violaceu s, which lives in the forests of southern Brisbane (Australia). These birds are famous for the complex shape they have ofwoo the females, with sophisticated rituals and dances, and for his skillful techniques in thenest building, which they decorate with flowers and other colorful objects. “These specimens are a clear example that the brain is an important complement to the life of birds,” Keagy stressed. “Our research helps to understand that the brain of living beings is an indicator of their genetic quality,” said the scientist.
