Age-related differences in dominance ability and the effect of prior residence on age-related dominance were investigated in captive male dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis. To determine if adults and first-winter birdsnext term differed in their intrinsic dominance ability, pairs of adult and first-winter previous termbirdsnext term of equal body size and winning experience were established. Because plumage influences status, young previous termbirdsnext term were experimentally darkened to match their older cage-mates. Adult and first-winter males became dominant with equal frequency. Because of this result and the fact that adults are usually dominant in the field, the effect of prior residence on age-related dominance was also investigated. [...]
