Discriminant Criteria for Field Sexing in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow by Combining Body Size and Plumage Features / Sergio González, Francisco Morinha, Diego Villanúa, Lander Goñi, Guillermo Blanco.
Contributor(s): González, Sergio
| Morinha, Francisco | Villanúa, Diego | Goñi, Lander | Blanco, Guillermo | Aranzadi zientzia Elkartea.
Material type: 
BookCitation: González, S., Morinha, F., Villanúa, D., Goñi, L., Blanco, G., 2022. Discriminant Criteria for Field Sexing in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow by Combining Body Size and Plumage Features. Birds 3(4), 402-409. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds3040027 Publisher: [S.l.] : MDPI, 2022Content type: texto (visual) Media type: electrónico Subject(s): biometry | DFA | genetic | ringing | sexingGenre/Form: Artículo científicoOnline resources: Click here to access online Summary: Simple Summary
We provided basic morphological information on Eurasian Tree Sparrow from the Iberian Peninsula, and sexed a sample of individuals using molecular methods, with the aim of deriving sexing criteria in the field. The use of two measurements, wing length and badge width, allows the correct sexing of more than 90% of the tree sparrows in the Iberian Peninsula using only the usual tools used in ringing programs.
Summary: The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a monomorphic passerine, for which it is impossible to differentiate between males and females based on external characteristics. Being a species frequently captured for ringing, having a reliable method to determine sex from conventional biometric measurements would facilitate its study and be very useful for the correct management and conservation of this declining species. In the present study, we used biometric measurements recorded in 66 individuals captured with mist nets in communal roosts in northern Spain during the winter and sexed them using molecular techniques. We conducted a discriminant function analysis (DFA) to derive equations that allowed us to determine the sex of the specimens from some of the measurements recorded in the field. Significant differences were found between males and females in wing length, third primary length, badge width and height and body weight. The DFA provided two functions that correctly classified the sex of 94.7% of the individuals using wing length and badge width, and 98.2% if weight was added to the analysis. Our results allow sexing from measurements that can be easily recorded in the field with the tools commonly used in banding sessions and without the need for additional training. Considerations of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules on body size and the use of DFA in different populations are discussed.
| Item type | Current location | Call number | URL | Status | Date due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Publicación
|
Publicaciones Ornitología | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/4/27 | Not for loan |
Simple Summary
We provided basic morphological information on Eurasian Tree Sparrow from the Iberian Peninsula, and sexed a sample of individuals using molecular methods, with the aim of deriving sexing criteria in the field. The use of two measurements, wing length and badge width, allows the correct sexing of more than 90% of the tree sparrows in the Iberian Peninsula using only the usual tools used in ringing programs.
The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a monomorphic passerine, for which it is impossible to differentiate between males and females based on external characteristics. Being a species frequently captured for ringing, having a reliable method to determine sex from conventional biometric measurements would facilitate its study and be very useful for the correct management and conservation of this declining species. In the present study, we used biometric measurements recorded in 66 individuals captured with mist nets in communal roosts in northern Spain during the winter and sexed them using molecular techniques. We conducted a discriminant function analysis (DFA) to derive equations that allowed us to determine the sex of the specimens from some of the measurements recorded in the field. Significant differences were found between males and females in wing length, third primary length, badge width and height and body weight. The DFA provided two functions that correctly classified the sex of 94.7% of the individuals using wing length and badge width, and 98.2% if weight was added to the analysis. Our results allow sexing from measurements that can be easily recorded in the field with the tools commonly used in banding sessions and without the need for additional training. Considerations of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules on body size and the use of DFA in different populations are discussed.
González, S., Morinha, F., Villanúa, D., Goñi, L., Blanco, G., 2022. Discriminant Criteria for Field Sexing in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow by Combining Body Size and Plumage Features. Birds 3(4), 402-409. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds3040027
There are no comments for this item.