Cited by 76Animal Behavior and ReproductionPrimate Behavior and EcologyEvolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation

Proactive prosociality in a cooperatively breeding corvid, the azure-winged magpie ( Cyanopica cyana )

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Horn, Lisa, Scheer, Clara, Bugnyar, Thomas, Massen, Jorg J. M.·2016·Biology Letters

Abstract

One of the contemporary hypotheses concerning the evolution of human altruism is the cooperative breeding hypothesis (CBH) which has recently been tested in non-human primates. Using a similar paradigm, we investigated prosociality in a cooperatively breeding corvid, the azure-winged magpie. We found that the magpies delivered food to their group members at high rates, and unlike other corvids, they did so without any cues provided by others. In two control conditions, the magpies stopped participating over time, indicating that they learned to discriminate prosocial tests from controls. Azure-winged magpies are thus the first birds that experimentally show proactive prosociality. Our findings are in line with the CBH; however, additional corvid species need to be tested in this promising paradigm.

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Authors
Horn, L., Scheer, C., Bugnyar, T., & Massen, J. J. M.
Affiliations
University of Vienna (AT)
Corresponding author
Horn, Lisa
Venue
Biology Letters
Published
2016-10
Volume
12
Issue
10
Pages
20160649
ISSN
  • 1744-9561 (ISSN-L)
  • 1744-957X
OpenAlex
W2535142729
Cited by
76
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2
FWCI
9.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biology Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Universität Wien (Start-Up)
  • Austrian Science Fund (P26806)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
Keywords
azure-winged magpie, Corvidae, food sharing, prosocial behavior
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Cooperative Behavior, Motivation, Social Behavior, Passeriformes

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