Variation in nuptial colour in relation to sex, individual quality and mating success in the sex-role reversed red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

In most bird species, males are more ornamented and compete for females, who contribute more to offspring care. In a minority of species this pattern is reversed, with more colourful females competing for mates and males taking care of parental duties. In such sex-role reversed species, the links between colourful ornamentation, individual quality and mating success are not well established. The red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) is a colourful sex-role reversed migratory shorebird with regular social polyandry, in which both sexes show considerable colour variation. Here, we describe sex differences in colour and quantify associations between colour variation and indicators of quality and mating success in both sexes. Using a large sample of photos collected across three consecutive years on the Arctic breeding grounds, we scored colour variation for four body parts (bill, crown, cheek and breast), and analysed scores separately and combined into an overall colour score. Females wer..., , , # Data from: Variation in nuptial colour in relation to sex, individual quality and mating success in the sex-role reversed red phalarope (*Phalaropus fulicarius*)

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fj6q57433](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fj6q57433)

Missing datapoints (empty cells) represent genuine missing values.

| **variable name** | **explanation** |
| :------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ID | individual identifier of each phalarope |
| year | |
| date | capture date |
| bill\_score | colour score for the bill (1-3) ...