Keas Perform Similarly to Chimpanzees and Elephants when Solving Collaborative Tasks

Area of Science:

• Comparative cognition
• Avian intelligence
• Evolution of cooperation

Background:

• Cooperation is a hallmark of human behavior, with some evidence in other species like chimpanzees and elephants.
• Understanding the cognitive mechanisms of cooperation in non-human animals is crucial for evolutionary insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the cooperative cognition of keas (New Zealand parrots) using specifically designed tasks.
• To determine if keas can coordinate actions and understand the necessity of a partner in obtaining rewards.

Main Methods:

• Keas were presented with a series of tasks requiring collaboration to access food rewards.
• Researchers measured waiting times for partners and whether birds initiated cooperation based on partner presence and need.

Main Results:

• Keas successfully cooperated, waiting up to 65 seconds for a partner when necessary.
• Birds selectively waited only when a partner was required for reward acquisition.
• One kea exhibited a preference for group work over solitary tasks, a trait seen in humans but not chimpanzees.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence of a bird species demonstrating sophisticated cooperative cognition, including partner tracking and extended waiting periods.
• Kea performance parallels that of primates and elephants in collaborative tasks, suggesting convergent evolution of cooperation.
• These findings challenge our understanding of the evolution of complex social cognition and highlight avian intelligence.