Our understanding of fundamental organismal biology has been disproportionately
influenced by studies of a relatively small number of 'model'species extensively studied in …

Research on mate choice has primarily focused on preferences for quality indicators,
assuming that all individuals show consensus about who is the most attractive. However, in …

Interacting with relatives provides opportunities for fitness benefits via kin-selected
cooperation, but also creates potential costs through kin competition and inbreeding …

Animals are usually expected to avoid mating with relatives (kin avoidance) as incestuous
mating can lead to the expression of inbreeding depression. Yet, theoretical models predict …

Cooperative breeders provide a particularly interesting scenario for studying inbreeding.
Such populations are viscous due to delayed dispersal and short dispersal distances …

Although it has long been disregarded, the accumulating evidence suggests that birds use
chemical cues for communication. However, the impact of olfaction on avian mate choice …

Inbreeding depression plays a major role in shaping mating systems: in particular,
inbreeding avoidance is often proposed as a mechanism explaining extra-pair reproduction …

We here review the role of olfaction in the Zebra Finch, a key avian model species. We
summarize the use of olfaction in social communication and in nonsocial contexts; its impact …

Kin recognition is a critical element to kin cooperation, and in vertebrates, it is primarily
based on associative learning. Recognition of socially unfamiliar kin occurs rarely, and it is …

Cooperative breeding in birds typically occurs when offspring–usually males–delay
dispersal from their natal group, remaining with the family to help rear younger kin. Sex …