Sexual display laterality in male of Japanese quail
Abstract
The influence of the brain laterality on behavioral expression and sensory perception has been
demonstrated in many species. We investigated the existence of a laterality in the expression
of courtship behaviors in 25 male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), observed
during head-to-head confrontations with a stuffed female. Around 42 % of tested males were
lateralized for three behavioral units: side display, tiptoe walking and courtship feeding.
Moreover, males kept the same bias for different behaviors and along the different repetitions.
At the group level, males preferentially showed their left side to the female in their side
displays. This result reflects preference in using the left visual field in sexual context. Our
data confirm previous results on, in other species of bird. These results supported the
hypothesis highlighting the importance of the visual field on the expression of a side
preference during the sexual display.