When you think of birds, you probably imagine their dazzling plumage or their beautiful songs.
当你想到鸟,你可能会想到它们耀眼的羽毛或动听的歌声。
But since the days of Darwin, scientists have figured that individual species of birds should not have both:
但是自从达尔文的时代开始,科学家就发现鸟类中的个体不能同时拥有这两种特征。
they’d either be drab virtuosos or eye candy that sings only one note.
它们要么就是羽毛色彩单调的艺术大师,要么就是只能唱一个音节的花瓶角色。
Now a study shows that some songbirds are in fact show-offs in sight and sound.
而现在的一项研究表明,一些黄莺在视觉及声觉方面都较出色。
The work is in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
这项研究已经在《皇家学会学报B》上发表。
Bright feathers and complex songs are different ways to attract a mate.
明亮的羽毛和动听的歌曲是吸引异性2种截然不同的方式。
The more flamboyant the display, the more likely a bird will get noticed.
鸟儿羽毛的色彩越艳丽,就越容易被注意。
But these exaggerated calling cards take a lot of energy to produce.
但是这种夸张的名片需要大量的精力才能创造。
Which is why scientists assumed that birds would have to choose between melody or looks.
这就是为什么科学家认为鸟类会在唱歌天赋与外貌之间做出艰难选择。
But an exhaustive survey of the tanagers, a family of songbirds from Central and South America, shows no sign of a tradeoff.
但是对来自中美洲和南美洲黄莺家族的唐纳雀进行的一份详细的调查表明,这种鸟类在这两方面表现都很出色。
Although some tanager species do emphasize oration over attire, like the aptly named drab hemispingus.
一些唐纳雀品种,就像它恰当的名字褐拟雀一样歌喉胜过外表。
Some, like the mountain tanager, are both dashing and melodious.
还有比如山裸鼻雀,外表既华丽又有动听的歌喉。
While the white-bellied seedeater is fine with looking and sounding rather dull.
然而白腹食籽雀的外表和歌喉的都还较好。
The different species likely experienced different selective pressures, leading to their varied strategies.
不同的物种可能经历了大自然不同的选择压力,从而导致它们采取多种策略。
Whatever it takes to catch the eye, and or ear, of a potential mate.
不管是能吸引眼球还是能吸引耳朵都会成为选择潜在伴侣对象的重要因素。