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Biology: Publication in PLOS Biology
In a major behavioural study of more than 130 species of birds, an international research team involving Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) examined why the behaviour of different species varies widely when it comes to facing the unknown. The ManyBirds project discovered that diet and migratory behaviour have a significant influence on aversion to novelty (neophobia), as the researchers now report in the scientific journal PLOS Biology. These findings can be relevant when planning nature conversation programmes.
The way birds behave when they encounter the unknown varies widely: While tits and sparrows are curious, fluttering around the garden table – just in case a tasty treat should fall – other birds flee as soon as a person even enters the garden.
Team Leader of the study Dr Rachael Miller from Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge in the UK: “Neophobia has advantages and disadvantages. Neophobic reactions can protect an individual from potential risks but also reduce opportunities to exploit new resources such as unfamiliar food sources or nesting sites.”
The researchers in the ManyBirds project wanted to find out why some bird species tend to be curious and brave, while others avoid novelty. The project was founded in 2021 by Dr Rachael Miller and Dr Megan Lambert (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna) and involves a total of 129 researchers from 77 institutions. Dr Kai R. Caspar from the Institute of Cell Biology at HHU belongs to the Leadership Team of the project and was involved in the conceptual development and organisation, as well as the recording and analysis of the data.
In zoo, laboratory and field sites in 24 countries on six continents, ManyBirds observed a total of 1,439 individual birds from 136 species and 25 taxonomic orders. In Germany, Caspar and his colleagues studied birds in zoos and animal parks in Detmold, Krefeld and Wuppertal among others, including the secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and the Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).
In a standardised observation process, each bird was presented with a familiar, favoured item of food in two situations, once just with the food and once alongside a novel object. This object had a uniform colour and texture, while the size was adapted to the individual species.
Caspar: “We then measured the time it took the birds to touch the food in both scenarios. We interpreted the time difference between the situations as a measure of the degree of neophobia. The behaviour was reproducible, i.e. individual birds displayed consistent reactions, even after a break of several weeks.”
The researchers established that diet specialisation and migratory behaviour have a significant influence on the level of neophobia. They surmise that species with a specialist diet – including flamingos – may be subject to fewer environmental changes and thus perceive the unknown as more of a threat. By contrast, species with a generalist diet, such as starlings, are quicker to investigate and exploit different types of food. Migratory species such as cranes are exposed to more risks as they have to interact with many potentially dangerous novel objects and environments. Neophobia can thus be a beneficial evolutionary driver for them.
Dr Miller sees application potential in the research findings: “Neophobia helps assess how species react to changes. Species, which are more cautious when facing the unknown may under certain circumstances find it difficult to adapt to factors such as climate change or urbanisation. By contrast, species with a lower level of neophobia are more flexible or resilient.”
Dr Lambert, Co-Lead of ManyBirds, adds: “Our findings are particularly relevant for species experiencing habitat change or being released into the wild from breeding programmes. If we understand their behavioural tendencies, conservationists can develop strategies to improve the chances of survival of endangered species.”
Dr Caspar: “To date, cognitive science has only focused on a very small number of bird species such as pigeons and certain corvids. ManyBirds is an important step toward throwing a scientific spotlight onto previously ignored groups of birds in order to understand the evolution of cognitive abilities better.”
Detailed caption for image 2:
Overview diagram of the neophobia level of and links between the various bird species studied. The colours of the lines indicate how wary the various birds are: Red tones indicate a high level of neophobia, while white indicates indifference to novel objects. Blue tones indicate birds, which approach food particularly quickly in the presence of novel objects, i.e. birds, which are curious. (Fig.: HHU/Kai Robert Caspar)
Miller R, Šlipogor V, Caspar KR, Lois-Milevicich J, Soulsbury C, Reber SA, et al. (2025) A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia. PLOS Biology 23(10): e3003394.
DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pbio.3003394
A secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) in a test environment at Berlebeck eagle observatory in ...
Copyright: HHU/Kai Robert Caspar
Overview diagram of the neophobia level of and links between the various bird species studied. A det ...
Copyright: HHU/Kai Robert Caspar
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