Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

Homosexual courtship occurs in some species of Jays (closely related to Crows), so far observed only in captivity. Male Gray-breasted or Mexican Jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina), a species found in the American Southwest and Mexico, have been seen COURTSHIP-FEEDING younger males in mixed-sex groups. This behavior—also part of heterosexual courtships—involves one male offering the other a food item; the latter accepts it while quivering his wings, crouching, and uttering a low kwa kwa kwa call. After eating the food or storing it in a cache, he may follow the other male to repeat the episode. Female San Bias Jays (Cyanocorax san-blasianus) of Mexico have been known to court other females in same-sex groups in captivity, using the SOTTO VOCE SONG DISPLAY. While making soft, throaty vocalizations, one female sidles up to the other on a perch with her tail raised and belly feathers fluffed.

Sources

*asterisked references discuss homosexuality/transgender

Antikainen, E. (1981) “The Breeding Success of the Jackdaw Corvus monedula in Nesting Cells.” Ornis Fennica 58:72–77.

*Baeyens, G. (1981a) “Magpie Breeding Success and Carrion Crow Interference.” Ardea 69:125–39.

———(1981b) “Functional Aspects of Serial Monogamy: The Magpie Pair-Bond in Relation to Its Territorial System.” Ardea 69:145–66.

*———(1979) “Description of the Social Behavior of the Magpie (Pica pica).” Ardea 67:28–41.

Birkhead, T. (1991) The Magpies: The Ecology and Behavior of Black-billed and Yellow-billed Magpies. London: T. and A. D. Poyser.

Birkhead, T., and J. D. Biggins (1987) “Reproductive Synchrony and Extra-Pair Copulation in Birds.” Ethology 74:320–34.

Birkhead, T., S. F. Eden, K. Clarkson, S. F. Goodburn, and J. Pellatt (1986) “Social Organization of Magpies Pica pica.” Ardea 74:59–68.

Buitron, D. (1988) “Female and Male Specialization in Parental Care and Its Consequences in Black-billed Magpies.” Condor 90:29–39.

———(1983) “Extra-Pair Courtship in Black-billed Magpies.” Animal Behavior 31:211-20.

Coombs, F. (1978) The Crows: A Study of the Corvids of Europe. London: B. T. Batsford.

Dhindsa, M. S., and D. A. Boag (1992) “Patterns of Nest Site, Territory, and Mate Switching in Black-billed Magpies (Pica pica).’ Canadian Journal of Zoology 70:633–40.

Dunn, P O., and S. J. Hannon (1989) “Evidence for Obligate Male Parental Care in Black-billed Magpies.” Auk 106:635–44.

*Hardy, J. W. (1974) “Behavior and Its Evolution in Neotropical Jays (Cissilopha).” Bird-Banding 45:253–68.

*———(1961) “Studies in Behavior and Phylogeny of Certain New World Jays (Garrulinae).” University of Kansas Science Bulletin 42:13–149.

Jerzak, L. (1995) “Breeding Ecology of an Urban Magpie Pica pica Population in Zielona Góra (SW Poland).” Acta Ornithologica 29:123–33.

*Lorenz, K. (1972) “Pair-Formation in Ravens.” In H. Friedrich, ed., Man and Animal: Studies in Behavior, pp. 17–36. New York: St. Martin’s.

*———(1935) “Der Kumpan in der Umwelt des Vögels.” Journal für Ornithologie 83:10–213, 289–413. Reprinted as “Companions as Factors in the Bird’s Environment.” In K. Lorenz (1970) Studies in Animal and Human Behavior, vol.1, pp. 101–258. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Ratcliffe, D. (1997) The Raven: A Natural History in Britain and Ireland. London: T. and A. D. Poyser.

Reynolds, P. S. (1996) “Brood Reduction and Siblicide in Black-billed Magpies (Pica pica).” Auk 113:189–99.

*Röell, A. (1979) “Bigamy in Jackdaws.” Ardea 67:123–29.

———1978) “Social Behavior of the Jackdaw, Corvus monedula, in Relation to Its Niche.” Behavior 64:1–124.

Trost, C. H., and C. L. Webb (1986) “Egg Moving by Two Species of Corvid.” Animal Behavior 34:294–95.

BIRDS OF PARADISE, BOWERBIRDS, AND OTHERS

RAGGIANA’S BIRD OF PARADISE