Page 265 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Box B11 Learning and ognition in Birds 237

VetBooks.ir (rather than part of their own body) dynami- et al. 2002), suggesting that the process may
be much more flexible than would be possible
cally to act on a goal (Bentley‐Condit and
Smith 2010). However, it is possible that birds
It should be clear from the discussion above,
using or even making tools habitually do so through associative learning alone.
using standard processes of learning, whereby that on‐going research demonstrates that
making or using a tool of a particular type many species of bird have advanced learning
in a particular way results in a reward. and cognitive abilities, rivalling that of many
Nevertheless, experiments suggest that habit- mammals. As with any animal, the mixture of
ual and non‐habitual tool users alike are able ‘expertise’ is shaped by the ecological niche,
to make a novel tool to solve a problem (e.g. but if provided with the right circumstances in
Auersperg et al. 2011, 2012; Bird and Emery which to demonstrate their prowess, birds are
2009; Morand‐Ferron and Quinn 2011; Weir anything but ‘bird‐brained’.

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