The Role of Lateralization in Feeding Behavior and Scratching Preference in Relation to Social Behavior in Captive Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)

Abstract

Lateralization is defined as a behavior or mental process displayed by an animal in wh ich there is a distinctive side preference. Caribbean flamingos have been shown to display lateralization in neck resting behavior (Anderson, Williams, & OBrien, 2009), and relationships between this side preference and aggression (Anderson, Williams, & Bono, 2010) and pair-bonding (Williams & Anderson, 2012) have been previously found. The pre sent study investigated whether Caribbean flamingos display lateral behavioral preferences in foot scratching and two types of stamp-feeding behavior, and examined the relationship, if any, between these lateral behaviors and both pair-bonding and aggression. Four of the birds displayed an individual-level lateral preference on one of the two feeding behaviors. Foot scratching preference was related to age such that older birds tended to utilize the right foot more for scratching. Results also suggested that birds who scratch with the left foot are mo re likely to be involved in, to be targeted in, and to lose fights, suggesting that lateral foot usage during scratching may be somehow related to social behaviors in this species, but as significant lateral scratching preferences were not found, such results must be viewed with caution. The lateral feeding behaviors did not appear to be significantly related to social cohesion.