Animal behaviour: use of dung as a tool by burrowing owls

Nature
Douglas J LeveyCarrie F Levins

Abstract

Reports of tool usage by birds tend to be anecdotal as only a few individuals may be involved and the behaviour observed can often be interpreted in other ways. Here we describe the widespread collection of mammalian dung by burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) and show that they use this dung as a bait to attract dung beetles, a major item of prey. Our controlled investigation provides an unambiguous estimate of the importance of tool use in a wild animal.

Citations

Mar 1, 2012·Animal Cognition·Volker B Deecke
Oct 20, 2010·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Athol J McLachlan, Richard J Ladle
Aug 21, 2008·PloS One·Vincenzo Penteriani, Maria del Mar Delgado
Aug 12, 2015·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·B Wren Patton, Victoria A Braithwaite
Feb 27, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Jill D Pruetz, Paco Bertolani
Mar 14, 2017·Scientific Reports·Edwin J C van LeeuwenDaniel B M Haun
Nov 22, 2018·PloS One·Carlos Camacho, Jaime Potti
Jul 29, 2016·Journal of Neurophysiology·Pedro Gabrielle VieiraJerome Baron
Aug 27, 2021·Journal of Fungi·Danielle Hamae YamauchiEduardo Bagagli

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