Crowing in relation to status in roosters

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between crowing and dominance using domestic roosters, Gallus gallus domesticus. Dominant males crowed significantly more often than subordinate males and often attacked subordinates that crowed. Dominants also produced crows that were higher in frequency than subordinates. In addition, dominant males spent more time near the speaker when crows of dominant males were played than they did when crows of subordinate males were played. Neither subordinate males nor females responded to tapes from males of either status. These results suggest that both crow rate and quality vary with male status and that dominants can and do discriminate between males using crow quality as a cue. Crowing by roosters could thus potentially function as a signal of status.