Some factors affecting the flock behaviour of red avadavats (Amandava amandava) with particular reference to clumping

Evidence for social facilitation of preening in the common tern

“…Preening occured simultaneously among neighbouring Bengalese finches, Lonchura striata domestica, more often than expected (Birke 1974), and was more strongly synchronized between pair-bonded than among nonpair-bonded zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata (Caryl 1976). Evans (1970) demonstrated weak, but significant, synchrony of preening in another finch, the red avadavat, Amandava amandava. In a test of mate choice in rock doves, Columba livia, Clayton (1990) found a significant correlation among male stimulus pairs in the proportion of time spent grooming.…”

Social learning and imitation in dogs (Canis familiaris)

“…Probably contagious behaviours facilitate synchronization in groups (Evans 1970;Birke 1974 -who uses the term 'facilitation') and it is very likely that, after the environmental stimuli provided a more general synchronization, contagion supports a finer level of synchronization (Klopfer 1959).…”