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Woodpeckers can learn how to use tools independently: An unexpected learning ability from birds
27.06.2023 08:50
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:25
Most birds can't use tools, except for the most intelligent ones.
A new study claims that some woodpeckers can learn how to use simple tools without learning it from other birds.
Let's find out more about these smart birds.
Birds that can invent ways to use tools by themselves
Woodpecker finches in the Galápagos Islands have shown no evidence of learning their tool-using skills by imitating each other, according to researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology.
The finches use twigs or cactus spines to extract insects from crevices, and they appear to select their probes based on the challenges of the particular crevice.
The study found that non-tool-using finches did not acquire the skill through imitation, but rather through a predisposition to interact with twigs during their juvenile phase.
In the right environment, they developed proficiency through trial and error.
The research
The research, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, challenges the assumption that imitation is necessary for acquiring complex behaviors.
The study also observed that woodpecker finches in dry areas use tools more frequently than those in humid areas.
The findings suggest that environmental factors play a significant role in the development of tool use in birds.
