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Related Experiment Video

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Testing for Metacognitive Responding Using an Odor-based Delayed Match-to-Sample Test in Rats

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Solution acceptance by common ravens (Corvus corax) given two-bottle preference tests.

A E Harriman¹, E G Fry

¹Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078-0250.

Psychological Reports

|August 1, 1990

Summary

Common ravens (Corvus corax) showed a unique preference for mid-range saccharin concentrations in two-bottle tests, unlike other birds. Ravens accepted lower sugar concentrations but avoided higher ones, with similar shifts for other tested chemicals.

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Area of Science:

Animal Behavior
Avian Ecology
Sensory Biology

Background:

Understanding avian dietary preferences is crucial for ecological studies.
Previous research indicates varied responses of birds to different chemical stimuli.
The common raven (Corvus corax) has a diverse diet, but specific taste preferences are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the taste acceptance of common ravens towards various chemical solutions.
To determine the preference thresholds for sugars, salts, acids, and artificial sweeteners in ravens.
To compare raven taste responses to known avian responses, particularly for sodium saccharin.

Main Methods:

Two-bottle choice tests were conducted in an outdoor aviary with eight common ravens.
Aqueous solutions of five sugars, three salts, two acids, quinine hydrochloride, and sodium saccharin were tested against water.
Solution acceptance was quantified as the percentage preference for the test solution over the control (water).

Main Results:

Ravens significantly preferred mid-range concentrations (0.10%–0.80% w/w) of sodium saccharin over water.
This preference for saccharin contradicts previous findings in avian two-bottle tests.
Ravens showed non-preferential acceptance of low sugar concentrations and aversion to high concentrations, with similar patterns observed for other tested chemicals.

Conclusions:

Common ravens exhibit a distinct preference for saccharin, diverging from typical avian responses.
Ravens demonstrate concentration-dependent acceptance and aversion to sugars and other tested chemicals.
These findings offer insights into the gustatory perception and potential dietary habits of common ravens.