Exploratory behaviour shapes nutrient versus energy foraging priorities in Java sparrows

Understanding the link between bird personality and food preference would help elucidate individual foraging strategies and species adaptability. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the relationship between personality and food preference to nutritional or energetic quality. Here, we investigated how exploratory behavior, a consistent behavioral trait, influenced the selection of Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) on foods with different nutritional and energetic qualities. We found that food preference varied across fast-, medium-, to slow-exploring groups. The fast- and medium-exploring birds first chose more nutrient-dense millet compared to slow-exploring counterparts. In contrast, with the extension of feeding periods, fast-exploring birds consumed greater quantities of common millet, which is more energy-dense. Furthermore, there was no sexual difference in food preference. These results indicate that exploratory behavioral type is significantly associated with food preference. In particular, fast-exploring Java sparrows exhibited food preferences that were associated with both the nutrient and energy contents of foods, and that such preferences were stage-dependent in the feeding duration. Our findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between personality and food preferences.