Data from: Mating success follows duet dancing in the Java sparrow

Mutual interactions between sexes have multiple signalling functions. Duet
singing in songbirds is related to mutual mate guarding, joint resource
defence, and signalling commitment. Coordinated visual displays of mating
pairs are thought to perform similar functions, but are less well
understood. The current study evaluated mutual interactions in an
Estrildid species to explore the relative importance of duet dancing and
male singing in mating success of pairs in a first encounter. When Java
sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) court prospective mates, only males sing.
However, both males and females perform courtship dances, often in a
duet-like manner. These dances are typically terminated by female
copulation solicitation displays (CSDs). In the current study, we observed
higher mating success when courtship dances were mutually exchanged, and
when males sang. However, the sex initiating the courtship did not affect
mating success. Most females produced CSDs after duet dancing but before
hearing the entire song, indicating that duet dancing played a crucial
role in mating. This finding highlights an unexplored aspect of duetting
behaviour in the process of mutual mate choice. These results conflict
with the majority of past songbird research, which has interpreted songs
as primary behavioural sexual signals.