MALE BLUE PETRELS REVEAL THEIR BODY-MASS WHEN CALLING

The blue petrel Halobaena caerulea is a nocturnal burrow-dwelling seabird: probably for this reason, sexual signalling in this species is based primarily on vocalizations. In this paper, we examine the possibility that structural parameters of the male call can provide information to females about male qualities. Several temporal parameters (durations and rhythm) are significantly correlated with body mass or condition of the males. These results are discussed in relation to the fact that body mass may be a good predictor of breeding success in some species of seabirds.