In this comment we review some experiments, which address the initial selectionpressures promoting the development of tail streamers in some hirundine species.The results of recent experiments have been interpreted as providing evidencefor the hypothesis that tail streamers evolved as a handicap, through sexualselection. We offer an alternative explanation with evidence from our studieswhich suggest that tail streamers may have evolved initially through naturalselection for increased manoeuvrability, and would not therefore originally actas a handicap.
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