Predator Recognition in Birds

Dr. Roman Fuchs Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic Dr. Petr Veselý Department of ZoologyFaculty of Science University of South BohemiaBranišovská 1760 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic Dr. Jana NácarováDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Science University of South BohemiaBranišovská 1760 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic

• 1 What do we know about predator recognition by untrained birds?.- 1.1 The study of predator recognition (How to make birds respond in etho-ecological experiments - to show that they recognized the predator – nest defense, feeder experiments, laboratory experiments…).- 1.2 Evidence for predator recognition ability (What predator categories birds recognize – predator vs. non-predator, aerial vs. terrestrial predators, individual predator species…).- 1.3 Tools used for predator recognition (What cues bird use for predator recognition – sign stimuli, coloration, size…).- 2 What can the recognition experiments with trained pigeons tell?.- 2.1 Category discrimination and concepts formation (How do birds form categories of predators – memorizing vs. generalization vs. conceptualization…).- 2.2 Object recognition (What cues birds use for predator recognition – particulate feature theory vs. recognition by components, local vs. global features…).- 2.3 Other cognitive processes (Are we able toreveal other cognitive processes in predator recognition by birds – amodal completion, priming…).