Tail streamers and flight performance in Barn Swallows: natural or sexual selection?

The paper of Evans (1998) published in the journal Nature on the evolution of tail streamers in male Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica is discussed in the light of some methodological problems commited by this author. The conclusions are that the interpretation of Evans’ results must be taken with caution and that the importance of natural selection, as compared with the well established role of sexual selection, in the evolution of tail streamers in Barn Swallows remains to be assessed.

Barbosa, A., Ardeola 46(1), 1999, 101-104