house sparrow
Black patch
As you can see, the males have black throat patches of varying size. One of the patches is especially large, and its owner seems to hold great interest for the female.
The female chooses
The females choose from among the males. She prefers to have one with a large throat patch. Why?
Big patch, good mate
A large throat patch indicates a male that is strong and dominant. His territory is likely to include several good nesting holes that he defends against competitors. He is also likely to be in good condition and relatively free of parasites.
Wise choice
A male with a large throat patch is thus a wise choice for a female. She and her offspring will be more secure in his territory.
