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May 19, 2009 05:12 PM | 10
People may have a tough time telling one squawking bird from another. Mockingbirds, on the other hand, quickly learn which humans to watch.
"Mockingbirds certainly do not view all humans as equal," Doug Levey, lead author of a study of published this week in Proceedings of the National of Sciences, said in a statement.
How quickly can Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) start recognizing specific people? It only takes two 30-second exposures over a couple of days.
In Levey’s experiment, student volunteers touched birds' nests on the busy UF campus once a day for four days. After the second day, birds began alarm calls and attack flights sooner and sooner, even swooping down Hitchcock-style to graze the heads of intruders. On the fifth day, however, a different human approached the nests, and the birds' response was back to square one.
The researchers conclude that mockingbirds "rapidly learn to assess the level of threat posed by different humans, and to respond accordingly." That, the scientists note, may explain why mockingbirds and some other species have adapted so well to urban environments.
Defense mode can be risky and energy-intensive, so overreacting—or under-reacting—to frequent passersby would be a distinct disadvantage in an urban environment.
Levey explained that there's no reason to believe that the mockingbirds are in tune with humans in particular. "Mockingbirds and humans haven't been living in close association long enough for that to occur," he said. Rather, the study shows a general attention to detail that might surprise many who have thought crows, ravens and parrots to have the most impressive bird brains.
Image of fluffed-up mockingbird on the University of Florida Campus courtesy of Louis Guillette
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10 Comments
Add CommentA couple of years ago, one of our basset hounds apparently offended a resident mockingbird in some way. For the rest of the season, the bird would swoop down as if to attack that dog when I took both dogs for a walk. The other dog was never targeted, nor was I. The mockingbird clearly knew that its displeasure was aimed at the one particular dog. The dog, of course, was completely oblivious to the bird's threatening swoops.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis season I have one in my yard that actively seeks my company. It routinely approaches as close as six feet from me and displays no agression or fear of me. It seems to be very curious and follows me around while I perform my various tasks. It will even fly into my garage to watch me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf you'd like to see a video of these birds in action, check out: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/may/18/mockingbirds-human-recognition
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt'll make you smile and shake your head!
Sorry, that was the wrong URL. Here's the right one:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtoM-jiXT-Y
I have what i call "pet" mockingbirds. I learned that they like raisons. They will aproach me "asking" for raisons. I have been "allowed" near the nest. On occasion, if I don't notice that one is nearby waiting for raisons, it will hit me in the back with its wing and wait on the fence until I get some raisons out to feed it. I am well trained at keeping raisons with me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis has occurred to me during research and nest monitoring work for American Robins. On a busy trail they ignored pedestrians, but when I appeared with my mirror pole, the adults would appear from over 200m away to attack, often defecating on my head as the dived at me. My attempts to disguise myself were generally fruitless, and maybe it was due to their recognition of the mirror pole.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhat can i do about an agressive mocking bird that swoops down on my head and tries to attack my kitten
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWHAT CAN WE DO THE MOCKINGBIRDS TWO. SWOOP DOWN ON MY HEAD AND TRY TO ATTACK MY NEW KITTEN???
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWHAT CAN WE DO THE MOCKINBIRD TWO OF THEM. SWOOP DOWN AND ATTACK ME AND MY NEW KITTEN. HELP
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis was enlightening since I only recently have had a single mockingbird visit my property every day, perching on a high roof peak and singing his heart out at sunset until dark. I have a fear of birds ffuttering around me and wish I could conquer it because this bird is special to me. I shall iry feeding it raisins. Perhaps my love for this bird will conquer my phobia.
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