Stable individual differences on developmental tasks in young yellow-crowned parakeets,Cyanoramphus auriceps

Abstract

We report on stable individual differences in young yellow-crowned parakeets across 38 tasks of cognitive development on three scales involving object permanence, means-end relations, and spatial relations. Stable performance ranks on blocks of tasks emerged after 13 weeks in two groups of sibling parakeets, one hand-reared and the other parent-reared. Examination of subject characteristics, such as hatch order, sex, general activity level, avoidances, latencies, social status, and errors, showed no significant correlations with these performance ranks. Characteristic individual approaches to unstructured play activities (from a fourth scale) were consistent with individual behavioral differences seen on the structured cognitive tasks.

The Development of Sensorimotor Cognition in Common Ravens (Corvus corax) and its Comparative Evolution

“…This does not mean, however, that more distantly related species are unsuitable -only that the tests must be adapted to enable comparison. For example, Funk (1996aFunk ( , 1996bFunk ( , 2002Funk & Matteson, 2004) investigated the development of yellow-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus auriceps) in several Piagetian domains and found consistent individual performance and a development pattern similar to that of human infants. Although the parakeets developed much faster, the precise timing of their development, resulting from various performance factors, is relatively unimportant.…”

Unrewarded Object Combinations in Captive Parrots

“…In this case, rearing history may have influenced the level of novel object apprehension in this highly neophobic species. It has, for example, been shown that hand-reared juvenile orange winged amazons and New Zealand parakeets approach novel objects faster than parent-reared birds (Fox & Millam, 2004; Funk, 2002; Funk & Matteson, 2004). Nevertheless, it is curious that the remaining subjects did not even leave their perches throughout most of the entire experiment (15 sessions of 30 minutes).…”

The Use of Personality Assessments in Designing Environmental Enrichment for Garnett's Bushbabies (Otolemur garnettii)

“…Researchers have also investigated personality in fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects (e.g. fish: Coleman & Wilson, 1998;Francis, 1990;Budaev, 1997;birds: Webster & Hurnik, 1990;Jones et al, 1991;Figueredo et al, 1995;Funk & Matteson, 2004;snakes: Herzog & Burghardt, 1988;newts: Halliday, 1976;butterflies: Gerould, 1927). For example, Budaev (1997) examined differences in the exploratory behavior and social tendencies of guppies.…”