Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

22.0K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
22.0K
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

5.2K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
5.2K
Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

12.9K
Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
12.9K
Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

1.1K
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
1.1K
Conservation of Declining Populations02:07

Conservation of Declining Populations

13.5K
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
13.5K
Optimal Foraging00:48

Optimal Foraging

14.1K
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
14.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Cognitive Foundations of Teaching.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same author

Social information about others' affective states in a human-altered world.

The Journal of animal ecology·2026
Same author

Wild jackdaws recognise the contact calls of their mate.

Animal cognition·2025
Same author

Social Interactions Are Related to Cognitive Development in Western Australian Magpie Fledglings.

Ecology and evolution·2025
Same author

Investigating the relationship between heat-mediated cognitive impairment and antipredator response in a wild bird.

Royal Society open science·2025
Same author

Wild jackdaws learn to tolerate juveniles to exploit new foraging opportunities.

Biology letters·2025
Same journal

Cat colonies reshape the abundance and body size of lizards.

Biology letters·2026
Same journal

Visual signal dynamicity shapes detectability in the wild: an experiment with a mate-searching butterfly.

Biology letters·2026
Same journal

Transient marine species disproportionately expand the morphospace of North American continental freshwater fishes.

Biology letters·2026
Same journal

An unrecognized fine-scale host-plant adaptation in a leaf miner: correct dorsoventral egg orientation is essential for successful leaf entry.

Biology letters·2026
Same journal

Alpine adaptation drives rapid colour evolution in a Batesian mimic.

Biology letters·2026
Same journal

Song but not colour divergence constrains hybridization in birds.

Biology letters·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Who is Who? Non-invasive Methods to Individually Sex and Mark Altricial Chicks
08:14

Who is Who? Non-invasive Methods to Individually Sex and Mark Altricial Chicks

Published on: May 24, 2014

19.0K

Socially learnt predator recognition in nestling jackdaws.

Hannah R Broad1, Guillam E McIvor1,2, Alex Thornton1

  • 1Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, PenrynTR10 9FE, UK.

Biology Letters
|March 5, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Young jackdaws can socially learn to identify predators from unfamiliar bird calls. This social learning, even in the nest, helps young birds recognize potential dangers and enhances their survival strategies.

Keywords:
cognitioncorvidsnestlingspredator recognitionpreparednesssocial learning

More Related Videos

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern
04:10

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

6.6K
Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
07:34

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

8.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Who is Who? Non-invasive Methods to Individually Sex and Mark Altricial Chicks
08:14

Who is Who? Non-invasive Methods to Individually Sex and Mark Altricial Chicks

Published on: May 24, 2014

19.0K
Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern
04:10

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

6.6K
Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
07:34

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

8.7K

Area of Science:

  • Ethology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Avian Cognition

Background:

  • Recognizing threats is crucial for survival, especially for young animals.
  • Social learning allows animals to acquire information about dangers without direct experience.
  • Understanding anti-predator responses is vital, particularly with changing predator compositions due to human activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if young jackdaws can socially learn about unfamiliar predators while still in the nest.
  • To determine if jackdaw nestlings associate unfamiliar predator calls with danger cues.

Main Methods:

  • Wild jackdaw nestlings were exposed to playback calls of an unfamiliar predator (Eurasian goshawk) and a non-predator (American golden plover).
  • These calls were paired with either conspecific alarm calls (indicating danger) or contact calls (neutral stimulus).
  • Vigilance rates of the nestlings were measured as a response indicator.

Main Results:

  • Jackdaw nestlings increased vigilance when predator calls were paired with alarm calls.
  • Vigilance rates did not change when predator calls were paired with contact calls.
  • Responses to non-predator calls were unaffected by pairing with either alarm or contact calls.

Conclusions:

  • Jackdaw nestlings demonstrate the ability to socially learn about unfamiliar vocalizations, including those of predators.
  • There is evidence suggesting a potential predisposition or 'preparedness' in young birds to learn fear-relevant stimuli.
  • This study highlights the importance of social learning in developing anti-predator behaviors in young birds.