Social rank, neophobia and observational learning in black-capped chickadees

Abstract

Behavioural syndromes are consistent patterns in behavioural tendencies across varying situations in individual animals. Although studies of behavioural syndromes are becoming more
\ncommon, few draw connections to social dominance. Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) flock in winter, and dominance hierarchies play an important role in governing
\nsocial behaviour within these flocks. Dominants and subordinates may also pursue different
\nforaging strategies and differ in risk-taking, such as consuming novel food. In this study we
\nexamined whether social rank was related to neophobia and observational learning in chickadees. We measured individual reactions to novelty and individual differences in foragingtask learning ability. Latencies to approach a variety of novel stimuli were consistent within
\nindividuals. Social rank was related to individual reactions to novelty but not to observational learning ability. Lower-ranking individuals were less neophobic, which was consistent
\nwith the pattern of their dominance hierarchy in the wild where dominants control access to
\npreferred resources and restrict subordinates to forage in riskier novel environments.