Differences in exploration behaviour in common ravens and carrion crows during development and across social context

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Comparative Psychology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Exploration is crucial for young animals to learn about their environment.
• Species ecology and social context likely influence exploration, but comparative studies are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate developmental and social influences on group-level exploration in common ravens (Corvus corax) and carrion crows (C. corone/C. cornix).
• Compare exploration behaviors between two related corvid species reared identically.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study across fledging, juvenile, and sub-adult stages.
• Subjects exposed to novel items alone and in social groups (dyad/subgroup).
• Exploration towards novel and familiar humans assessed in solitary contexts.

Main Results:

• Both species showed peak interaction with novel items as juveniles, potentially linked to dispersal and neophobia.
• Social presence generally increased interaction frequency but delayed initial contact with novel items.
• Carrion crows displayed significantly lower interaction rates with novel humans compared to common ravens, a difference evident from fledging.

Conclusions:

• Developmental stage significantly impacts corvid exploration, with a peak in juvenile exploration.
• Social context modulates exploration, increasing overall engagement but requiring more time for initial interaction.
• Species-specific differences in human interaction suggest underlying ecological or behavioral distinctions between ravens and crows.