Long-term consistency despite cross-seasonal changes in personality traits of common waxbills

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Soraia Guerra
  • Ana Cristina R. Gomes
  • Gonçalo C. Cardoso

Tests of long-term consistency in personality differences are not abundant. We studied personality in common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) from one Autumn to the next, and also from Autumn to a subsequent Spring, using a behavioural assay for their proactive-reactive personality axis (mirror test) and for tonic immobility. From one Autumn to the next, individual differences were consistent and the population median behaviours did not change, indicating long-term stability of personality differences. From Autumn to Spring, behavioural differences remained consistent, despite the population shifting to more proactive behaviour and individual differences being accentuated in the proactive-reactive personality axis. This increase in personality differences was not found between the two previous Autumns, suggesting a seasonal rather than longitudinal change, and a possible role for personality differences during the Spring breeding season. We conclude that waxbill personality differences are stable in the long term, despite changes in behaviour between Autumn and Spring.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBehaviour
Volume157
Issue number8-9
Pages (from-to)781-806
Number of pages26
ISSN0005-7959
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • Animal personality, Estrilda astrild, Long-term consistency, Mirror test, Seasonal changes, Tonic immobility test

ID: 249863388