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. 2014 Apr 16;281(1784):20133225.
doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3225. Print 2014 Jun 7.

Physical cognition: birds learn the structural efficacy of nest material

Ida E Bailey  1 , Kate V Morgan, Marion Bertin, Simone L Meddle, Susan D Healy
Affiliations

Physical cognition: birds learn the structural efficacy of nest material

Ida E Bailey et al. Proc Biol Sci. .

Abstract

It is generally assumed that birds' choice of structurally suitable materials for nest building is genetically predetermined. Here, we tested that assumption by investigating whether experience affected male zebra finches' (Taeniopygia guttata) choice of nest material. After a short period of building with relatively flexible string, birds preferred to build with stiffer string while those that had experienced a stiffer string were indifferent to string type. After building a complete nest with either string type, however, all birds increased their preference for stiff string. The stiffer string appeared to be the more effective building material as birds required fewer pieces of stiffer than flexible string to build a roofed nest. For birds that raised chicks successfully, there was no association between the material they used to build their nest and the type they subsequently preferred. Birds' material preference reflected neither the preference of their father nor of their siblings but juvenile experience of either string type increased their preference for stiffer string. Our results represent two important advances: (i) birds choose nest material based on the structural properties of the material; (ii) nest material preference is not entirely genetically predetermined as both the type and amount of experience influences birds' choices.

Keywords: bird; cognition; construction; learning; nest building; structural properties.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The percentage of stiff string chosen by males that had no (n = 7), one (n = 10) or two (n = 7) experiences of building with flexible string. The data are the means and standard errors for these treatment groups. The dashed line indicates 50%.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The percentage change in birds’ preference for stiff string from before and after building a complete nest (Experiment 2). Preferences were calculated from the first 10 choices. The data are preferences for each male (n = 24). The dashed line indicates no change (0%).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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