Physical cognition: birds learn the structural efficacy of nest material

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.

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Social learning in nest-building birds: a role for familiarity

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2015.2685 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 283 (1827) ◽

pp. 20152685 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Lauren M. Guillette ◽

Alice C. Y. Scott ◽

Susan D. Healy

Keyword(s):

Social Learning ◽

Social Information ◽

Nest Building ◽

Zebra Finches ◽

Trial And Error ◽

Nest Material ◽

Conspecific Male ◽

Error Learning ◽

First Time

It is becoming apparent that birds learn from their own experiences of nest building. What is not clear is whether birds can learn from watching conspecifics build. As social learning allows an animal to gain information without engaging in costly trial-and-error learning, first-time builders should exploit the successful habits of experienced builders. We presented first-time nest-building male zebra finches with either a familiar or an unfamiliar conspecific male building with material of a colour the observer did not like. When given the opportunity to build, males that had watched a familiar male build switched their material preference to that used by the familiar male. Males that observed unfamiliar birds did not. Thus, first-time nest builders use social information and copy the nest material choices when demonstrators are familiar but not when they are strangers. The relationships between individuals therefore influence how nest-building expertise is socially transmitted in zebra finches.

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Neural Circuits Underlying Nest Building in Male Zebra Finches

Integrative and Comparative Biology ◽

10.1093/icb/icaa108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 943-954 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sophie C Edwards ◽

Zachary J Hall ◽

Eira Ihalainen ◽

Valerie R Bishop ◽

Elisa T Nicklas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Behavior ◽

Nest Building ◽

Lateral Septum ◽

Early Gene ◽

Zebra Finches ◽

Nest Material ◽

Motor Pathway ◽

Nest Box ◽

The Social ◽

Behavior Network

Abstract Nest building consists of a series of motor actions, which are concomitant with activity in regions of the anterior motor pathway, the social behavior network, and the reward circuity in nest building adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). It is not clear, however, whether this activity is due to nest building, collection, and/or manipulation of nest material. To identify which areas of the brain are specifically involved, we used immunohistochemistry to quantify the immediate early gene c-Fos in male zebra finches that were nest building (Building), birds given a nest box but could interact only with tied down nest material (Fixed), and birds that were not given a nest box or nest material (Control). We investigated the following brain regions: the anterior motor pathway (anterior ventral mesopallium [AMV], AN, anterior striatum [ASt]), areas of the social behavior network (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, dorsomedial subdivision [BSTmd], lateral septum [LS]), the dopaminergic reward circuitry (ventral tegmental area), and the cerebellum. We found that there was greater Fos immunoreactivity expression in the BSTmd, LS, and AMV with increased material deposition; in LS, AMV ASt, and Folium VI with increased material carrying; in LS, AMV, and ASt with increased nest material tucking; and in LS and all folia (except Folium VIII) with increased tugging at tied down material. These data confirm a functional role for areas of the anterior motor pathway, social behavior network, and the cerebellum in nest material collection and manipulation by birds.

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