Ornamental feather coloration is usually a reflection of male quality and plays an important role during courtship, whereas the essence of male quality at the genetic level is not well understood. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mate choice has been observed in various vertebrates. Here, we investigated the relationship between the coloration of cape feathers and the MHC genotypes in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus). We found that feather coloration differed sharply among different individuals (brightness: 1827.20 ± 759.43, chroma: 1241.90 ± 468.21, hue: 0.46 ± 0.06). Heterozygous individuals at the most polymorphic MHC locus (IA2) had brighter feathers than homozygous individuals (Z = −2.853, p = 0.004) and were more saturated in color (Z = −2.853, p = 0.004). However, feather coloration was not related to other MHC loci or to overall genetic heterozygosity (p > 0.050). Our study suggested that coloration of cape feathers might signal IA2 genotypes in golden pheasants.

中文翻译：

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海角羽毛着色信号表示雄性锦鸡（Chrysolophus pictus）中大多数多态性MHC基因座的不同基因型。

观赏羽毛的着色通常是雄性品质的反映，并且在求爱过程中起着重要作用，而在遗传水平上雄性品质的本质尚不清楚。主要的组织相容性复合体（MHC）基于伴侣的选择已观察到各种脊椎动物。在这里，我们调查了披肩羽毛的颜色与金鸡（Chrysolophus pictus）中MHC基因型之间的关系。我们发现不同人的羽毛着色差异很大（亮度：1827.20±759.43，色度：1241.90±468.21，色相：0.46±0.06）。在多态性MHC位点（IA2）处的杂合子个体的羽毛比纯合子个体（Z = -2.853，p = 0.004）明亮，并且颜色更饱和（Z = -2.853，p= 0.004）。但是，羽毛着色与其他MHC基因座或总体遗传杂合度无关（p > 0.050）。我们的研究表明，斗篷羽毛的颜色可能标志着锦鸡的IA2基因型。