【英语时差8，16】为什么雄鸟如此多娇

 Ya?l: Hey, Don, How come a rooster is fancier than a hen?

Don: Ummm! I dunno, Ya?l. So drivers can see it when it crosses the road.

Y: Nice try, but males birds are more brightly colored and have more ornamented¹ feathers than females for two reasons. First, so they can compete with each other for territory. Second, so they can attract mates.

D: How do they do that?

Y: Males use feather color to warn potential rivals that they occupy a piece of territory. Red-winged black bird males flash hidden red feathers on their upper wings called epaulets. Scientists have found that when a male's epaulets are dyed black, he is more likely to lose his territory.

When it's time to mate, male birds show off their plumage to attract a mate. In experiments, female house finches prefer to mate with redder males while female pea fowl² like males with big tails. Scientists think females use male feather color and condition as a way to determine if he is healthy or will take good care of their nestlings. For example, redder cardinal³ males make better fathers by taking on more of the feeding responsibility.

D: So, fancy feathers mean a bird's healthy?

Y: Yes. That is the case with the Pied Flycatcher where males can be colored brown to black. Scientists have found that the more food a nestling receives, the bigger and healthier it is, and the blacker its color. Light feather color can also indicate disease. Chickens with a parasite⁴ known as coccidia are less colorful than healthy birds.

D: I understand now. If I want to attract the ladies, I should wear red Hawaiian shirts.  

1 ornamented   

adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 fowl   

n.家禽，鸡，禽肉

参考例句：

• Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
• Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。

3 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

4 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。