Does the type of task affect prey discrimination learning in avian predators?

When learning to discriminate between palatable and unpalatable prey, predators may encounter the prey either simultaneously or in a sequence. The two types of discrimination tasks, which are frequently used experiments focused on aposematism mimicry, considerably differ difficulty, as they information available during individual encounters with prey. Surprisingly, there very few studies directly comparing performance sequential simultaneous tasks using otherwise identical experimental design, same We tested effect type task effectiveness adult juvenile great tits (Parus major). Birds were trained artificial items baited mealworms soaked water quinine. Prey shape, colours patterns derived from real shield bug species. compared birds discriminative cues, colour pattern, three tasks: (1) sequential—alternating presentation one item, (2) two-choice—simultaneous item (3) multiple-choice—simultaneous multiple items. Colour was more effective cue than pattern for both birds. Adults performed better juveniles regardless task. equally well two-choice but their multiple-choice worse other tasks. However, these differences only present when cue. colour, salient cue, all Type therefore affect predators, also depends saliency particular