Acquisition of foraging skills in juvenile ringdoves : who do they learn from?

This thesis seeks to determine if juvenile birds preferentially select foraging information from their parents, by examining the acquisition of novel food-finding skills in juveniles of a flock-feeding species, the ringdove (Streptopelia risoria).The first experimental examined the flock feeding behaviour of juvenile ringdoves foraging in a small aviary flock composed of kin and non-kin; frequencies of local enhancement, food begging and aggression were recorded, as well as the individuals that the juvenile associated with while searching for food. Juvenile ringdoves foraged significantly more often with their kin and were aggressed more by non-kin. The last three experiments tested juveniles on three components of foraging: novel food type, environmental colour cues associated with food and novel food-searching techniques. All three involved a choice-test where the juveniles had their father and an unrelated flock member as demonstrators. All three choice-tests showed there was no preference for selecting either demonstrator's solution. Juvenile doves in the field may appear to learn from their parents simply because they associate more with them. (Abstract shortened by UMI.