Rose Thorogood

Birds learn from each other’s ‘disgust’, enabling insects to evolve bright colours

18 Dec 2017

A new study of TV-watching great tits reveals how they learn through observation. Social interactions within a predator species can have “evolutionary consequences” for potential prey – such as the conspicuous warning colours of insects like ladybirds.

Neighbourhood watch and more: how reed warblers watch out when there’s a cuckoo about

22 Jan 2016

A study of reed warbler behaviour reveals for the first time that in assessing the risks posed by cuckoos the birds combine information from multiple sources. An ‘information highway’ provides one set of clues and personal encounters another. Only when both add up, do the birds take defensive action.

Cuckoo tricks to beat the neighbourhood watch

02 Aug 2012

New research explains why female cuckoos have evolved different guises.

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Rose Thorogood

Birds learn from each other’s ‘disgust’, enabling insects to evolve bright colours

Neighbourhood watch and more: how reed warblers watch out when there’s a cuckoo about

Cuckoo tricks to beat the neighbourhood watch

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