The fine-grained spatial abilities of three seed-caching corvids

Learn Behav. 2005 Feb;33(1):59-66. doi: 10.3758/bf03196050.

Abstract

We used a psychophysical method to examine the ability of three corvid species to discern fine-grained spatial information. Nutcrackers, pinyon jays, and scrub-jays were required to discriminate the distance between two landmarks on a computer screen in an operant chamber. All three species were able to discriminate between arrays that differed by 20 mm; the discrimination gradients for scrub-jays and pinyon jays were sharper than those for nutcrackers, however. The results suggest that differences in spatial memory among these species are not related to differences in fine-grained perception.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Birds
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Psychophysics / methods*
  • Space Perception / physiology*