Individual and Species Preference in Two Passerine Birds: Auditory and Visual Cues

Young American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were raised in isolated allospecific and conspecific (nest-mate) pairs to determine if Blue Jays could distinguish between a "nest mate" and a strange bird of the nest-mate's species, based on auditory cues...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Auk 1994-07, Vol.111 (3), p.634-642
Main Authors: K. L. Schimmel, Wasserman, Frederick E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal communication
Animal ethology
Animal vocalization
Aves
Aviary birds
Aviculture
Biological and medical sciences
Bird nesting
Bird songs
Birds
Breeding
Cyanocitta cristata
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Ornithology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Species
Swallows
Turdus migratorius
Vertebrata
Visual stimulation
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Summary:Young American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were raised in isolated allospecific and conspecific (nest-mate) pairs to determine if Blue Jays could distinguish between a "nest mate" and a strange bird of the nest-mate's species, based on auditory cues or visual stimuli. After 25 days of being raised exclusively with another individual, each subject was tested in an electronic choice apparatus. Jays preferred: (1) to perch near a recording of their nest-mate's vocalizations over those of a bird that was not a nest mate; (2) the visual stimulus of their nest mate over that of a bird that was not its nest mate; (3) an unfamiliar bird of the nest-mate's species when given a choice between two unfamiliar birds, although the preference was not statistically significant; and (4) a recording of a jay when choosing between the recordings of two unfamiliar birds. Robins showed a preference for a recording of the alternate of its nest-mate's species, but no visual preference. In light of these findings, it appears that jays can recognize their nest mate using either visual or auditory cues, regardless of whether the nest mate is a conspecific or a robin. However, jays are more attracted to a conspecific's vocalizations when the choice is between two strange bird recordings (one a robin and one a jay), even if the subject was raised with a robin.
ISSN:0004-8038
1938-4254
2732-4613