Jackdaw chicks learn to identify and fear dangerous predators by listening to the alarm calls of their parents, according to a new study. This social learning process is critical for survival, as trial-and-error learning after leaving the nest can be deadly. The research suggests that the chicks’ brains are evolutionarily tuned to recognize biologically significant threats, allowing them to avoid unnecessary fear responses to non-predatory sounds.
How the Study Worked
Researchers from the University of Exeter simulated predator encounters by playing recordings of Eurasian goshawk calls alongside both alarm calls and neutral contact calls from adult jackdaws. The study involved 20–30-day-old jackdaw nestlings across 39 wild nests in southwestern England.
The findings were clear: chicks exposed to predator calls paired with alarm calls exhibited increased vigilance when hearing the call again, lifting their heads higher above their shoulders as a sign of alertness. In contrast, those exposed to predator calls with neutral contact calls showed no such heightened response. This demonstrates that the chicks are not merely reacting to any sound played alongside alarm calls but are specifically learning to associate danger with relevant predatory signals.
Evolutionary Significance
The study also revealed that chicks did not learn to fear non-predatory bird calls even when paired with alarm calls. This suggests an evolutionary adaptation where the animals conserve energy by only reacting to biologically meaningful threats. The researchers used calls from the American golden plover, a species unlikely to be encountered in Cornwall, England, to confirm this selective learning process.
According to co-author Alex Thornton, “Learning to associate events that occur together by chance…could cause chicks to learn the wrong information.” The fact that the jackdaws specifically learned to fear goshawk calls—a predatory bird—indicates that their learning processes are tailored by evolution to prioritize relevant dangers.
Adapting to Changing Environments
The study’s implications extend to the broader context of rapidly changing ecosystems. As predator ranges shift due to climate change and habitat alteration, social learning like this will likely become even more important for species survival. Goshawks, for example, are expanding their range into the United Kingdom, meaning jackdaws in Cornwall may soon encounter them in the wild. The ability to learn from others, as demonstrated in this research, could provide a crucial advantage in adapting to new threats.
“Learning processes like the one examined in this study might give species a chance to adapt to new threats.”
