Stimulus learning and response learning by observation in the European starling, in a two-object/two-action test
Article Abstract:
Juvenile European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, are influenced by both the object and the direction of a conspecific demonstrator's responses, according to research using a two-subject/two-action test to investigate the relative importance of stimulus learning and observational learning. Observer birds' preference for the object manipulated by a demonstrator gives convincing evidence for stimulus learning by observation. The two-object/two-action test was found to be very appropriate for analyzing hypotheses about the distinctive psychological mechanisms and adaptive functions of response learning and stimulus learning.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
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Perceptual mechanisms for individual vocal recognition in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris
Article Abstract:
Individual vocal recognition has been recorded in many avian species, although the perceptual mechanisms underlying this ability are not well understood. European starlings were trained to discriminate the songs of on male starling from those of four others. It is concluded that European starlings are capable of individual vocal recognition and that mechanisms involving memorizing individually specific song types, and the sequential ordering of song types, mediate the process.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1998
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Female European starling preference and choice for variation in conspecific male song
Article Abstract:
A novel method to assay female preference and choice in European starlings is proposed using the presentation of conspecific male song as a reinforce in a controlled environment. Female starlings were found to prefer naturally ordered conspecific male songs over reversed songs, and display preferences for longer compared to shorter male song bouts. Male starlings did not respond differentially to the same stimuli for which females exhibited strong preferences.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 2000
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