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1 June 2016 Tool Usage by Juvenile Sitta pusilla (Brown-headed Nuthatch)
Mary Mack Gray, Elliot W. Schunke, James A. Cox
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Abstract

Although tool usage in adult birds is well documented, we have not found reports of juvenile birds using tools other than a few observations of individuals held in captivity. Here we describe the first observations of tool usage by juvenile birds in the wild. We observed juvenile Sitta pusilla (Brown-headed Nuthatch) using tools similar to those used by adults as early as 2 months post-fledging. We also observed juveniles attempting to use novel objects as tools, suggesting tool usage in this species may have both innate and learned components. Tool usage also takes place in 2 closely related nuthatch species and may be more common in this family of birds than currently known.

Mary Mack Gray, Elliot W. Schunke, and James A. Cox "Tool Usage by Juvenile Sitta pusilla (Brown-headed Nuthatch)," Southeastern Naturalist 15(2), (1 June 2016). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.015.0209
Published: 1 June 2016
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