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Behavior of Birds Depends On Their Hatching Order

Posted by samzenpus on from the eldest-bird-of-an-eldest-bird dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A new study looks at the behavior of birds and found the hatching order of birds influences how they behave in adulthood. The study was conducted by Dr. Ian Hartley and Dr. Mark Mainwaring (LEC), researchers at the University of Lancaster Environment Center. The researchers noticed that the youngest members of the zebra finch broods were more adventurous than their older siblings in later life."

3 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Anedotal evidence suggests same for humans... by Fusselwurm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... or is that just me and the people I know?

    1. Re:Anedotal evidence suggests same for humans... by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's been an open question in psychology for over a century. There's some evidence for it, and some against it, and nobody has any kind of conclusive proof one way or the other.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    2. Re:Anedotal evidence suggests same for humans... by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Months of difference make a difference in sports and the classroom. Why shouldn't years of difference make a difference among siblings?

      http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/03/05/f-birth-month-sports-learning-health.html

      A 2011 study of B.C. students who entered kindergarten in 1995 found that compared to those born in January, kids with December birthdays were 12 to 15 per cent less likely to meet reading and numeracy standards in the elementary grades and 12 per cent less likely to graduate.

      In Britain, the school cutoff date is Aug. 31, which means kids learn with classmates born in September of the previous year. In a 2011 study, researchers at Britain’s Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that kids born in August have less confidence in their academic abilities and are less likely to attend top universities.