The outermost tail feather of the male barn swallow is longer than that of the female barn swallow. The long tail feather helps the males attract females, but it also requires the males to use extra energy to fly.The long tail feather trait is maintained in the barn swallow populations because, compared to males with a shorter tail feather, males with a longer tail feather are more likely to

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The long tail feather in male barn swallows is a sexually selected trait, meaning it has evolved because it gives males a reproductive advantage. Females prefer males with longer tail feathers, which leads to those males being more likely to mate and produce offspring. This preference maintains the trait in the population despite the increased energy cost for flight.

The Outermost Tail Feather of the Male Barn Swallow Is