Do Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) use predator eyes in risk assessment?

Animal Cognition
Steven C Kyle

Abstract

Previous studies have found that Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice use a predator's head orientation to determine risk, taking fewer seeds from a feeder if an avian predator model's head is facing the feeder while ignoring the head orientation. In addition to head orientation, eyes are a cue of predator risk. In the current study, I examined whether or not chickadees and titmice used the presence of eyes of a predator model to determine when to forage for food. Plastic owl models, with their eyes covered or uncovered, were presented to wild flocks of chickadees and titmice. To test whether or not chickadees and titmice would respond to the presence of eyes, the number of seeds taken and the calling behavior of birds were compared between the two types of predator presentations (eyes covered or uncovered). Chickadees and titmice took fewer seeds when the eyes were uncovered than when they were covered. Chickadees also gave significantly more introductory notes, often used in association with the presence of predators or risk, in their calls when the eyes were visible than when the eyes of the predator model were covered. The results indicate that chickadees and titmice can use the presence of eyes on predators to determine ...Continue Reading

References

May 4, 2000·Animal Behaviour·B HareM Tomasello
Aug 15, 2000·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·N J Emery
May 26, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·R Díaz-Uriarte
Jun 26, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Teresa FarroniMark H Johnson
Apr 12, 2007·Animal Cognition·Juliane BräuerMichael Tomasello
May 1, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Julia CarterArthur R Goldsmith
Aug 7, 2008·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Mark A Changizi, Shinsuke Shimojo
Mar 20, 2009·The New England Journal of Medicine·Gregory D CurfmanJeffrey M Drazen
Aug 23, 2011·Behavioural Processes·Judith SchmidtChristian Schloegl
Jun 12, 2013·PloS One·Sang-im LeePiotr G Jablonski
Jun 16, 2014·Animal Cognition·Todd M FreebergCecilia Kullberg
Nov 20, 2015·Learning & Behavior·Gabrielle L Davidson, Nicola S Clayton
Aug 8, 2019·Biology Letters·Madeleine GoumasNeeltje J Boogert

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Cool Edit Pro
SPSS
Syntrillium

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.