This is

This is Scientific Americans 60 Second Science.

I'm Karen Hoffman.

This will just take a minute.

When you think of birds, you probably imagine their dazzling plumage or their beautiful songs.

But since the days of Darwin, their or eye candy that sings only one note. Now a study shows that some songbirds are in fact show-offs in sight and sound.

The work is in the proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Bright feathers and complex songs are different ways to attract a mate.

The more flamboyant the display, the more likely a bird will get noticed.

But these exaggerated calling cards take a lot of energy to produce,

which is why scientists assume that birds would have to choose between melody or looks.

But an exhaustive survey of the tanagers, a family of songbirds from Central and South America,

shows no sign of a trade-off. Although some tanager species do emphasize oration over a tire, like the aptly named

drab hemispingus, some like the mountain tanager are both dashing and melodious, while the white-bellied seed eater

is fine with looking and sounding rather dull.

The different species likely experience different selective pressures

leading to their varied strategies. Whatever it takes to catch the eye and or ear of a potential mate.

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific Americans, 60 and or ear of a potential mate.

Thanks for the minute.

For Scientific Americans 60 Second Science,

I'm Karen Hopkins.