ISOLATING MECHANISMS IN SEABIRDS

In most species of birds, differences in plumage coloration or song structure act as isolating mechanisms. In seabirds, plumages are generally drab, and vocal repertoires are limited so that other phenotypic attributes must act as isolating mechanisms. One classic study of gulls suggests that the contrast between eye color and head color acts as a reproductive isolating mechanism, but this idea has been largely refuted by widespread evidence of hybridization in gulls in the last 20 years. An examination of more than 100 species of seabirds that breed sympatrically with congeners reveals that species with bills and feet similar in color hybridize in all areas where they breed sympatrically. Species that have bills or feet of different colors either do not hybridize or they produce rare hybrids that are unable to obtain mates as adults. This suggests that bill and foot coloration act as the primary isolating mechanisms in all surface-nesting seabirds and some burrow nesters. It may be a general pattern in birds that foot color acts to supplement bill color in reproductive isolation and mate choice.