The significance of ecological factors for exploration and neophobia in parrots

Exploratory behaviour plays an important role in most animals for gathering information about their environment. If it constitutes an adaptation to different environmental conditions exploratory behaviour should differ between species. This has been tested with several hypotheses. Sixty-one parrot species (Psittacidae) from eight tribes with different diets and habitat preferences were investigated in aviaries. Two tests were carried out. First, a novel object (wooden ring) in the familiar aviary was presented on two test days in the exploration test. Latencies until first contact with the object and the duration of exploration were recorded. Secondly, in the neophobia test, novel objects were placed beside the feeding dish and latencies until first food intake were recorded. The exploration and neophobia data were related to 12 (13) ecological variables using multiple regression analyses. Phylogenetic relationships were considered. Species that inhabit complex habitats, such as forest edges, or that feed on buds or species from islands showed the shortest latencies in the exploration test. In contrast, long latencies were related to a diet including a great amount of seeds and/or flowers. The longest duration of exploration occurred in species eating nuts or originating from islands, whereas short durations were related to feeding on seeds. Neophobia was positively related to a diet consisting of insects, and negatively to a diet of leaves. There was no relationship between measures of exploration and neophobia. Exploration and neophobia seem to be tightly related to the ecology of a species.