Behavioral Biology

Behavioural biology examines the behaviour of humans and animals and investigates which behaviour is innate and which skills are learned in the course of life. An overview of our research.

A wooden nest-box with two birds sitting at the entrance, looking at each other.

Daurian redstarts move closer to humans to protect their nests from brood parasitism more

Wild dolphin swims in lagoon watched by fishers

A study reveals how cooperative hunting between dolphins and fishers can benefit both species—and why this behavior faces extinction more

Fireworks have long-lasting impact on birds

A study GPS tracked geese before and after New Year’s Eve, revealing changes in behaviour that persisted well after the fireworks ended more

bonobo and young, Christian Ziegler

First-of-its-kind study identifies physiological changes in the transition to siblinghood more

Chimpanzee stone tool diversity

New analysis of chimpanzee stone tools show diverse material culture more

Battle of the bins

In Australia, cockatoos and humans are in an arms race over garbage access more

Post from Cape Verde

Researcher Eduardo Sampaio of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Constance sailed around the Cape Verde coast aboard the Captain Darwin. He talks about a diverse but endangered underwater world, the mating behavior of octopuses, and how it is also possible to play a game of cat and mouse with fish. more

Hawkmoth migration

By flying with hawkmoths during migration, scientists reveal the insects employ sophisticated flight strategies similar to vertebrates more

Four brown-gray birds in flight, seen from the side against a dark background.

Zebra finches communicate via eye contact and calls to coordinate their spatial positions during flocking flight more

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A wooden nest-box with two birds sitting at the entrance, looking at each other.

Daurian redstarts move closer to humans to protect their nests from brood parasitism more

Wild dolphin swims in lagoon watched by fishers

A study reveals how cooperative hunting between dolphins and fishers can benefit both species—and why this behavior faces extinction more

Fireworks have long-lasting impact on birds

A study GPS tracked geese before and after New Year’s Eve, revealing changes in behaviour that persisted well after the fireworks ended more

bonobo and young, Christian Ziegler

First-of-its-kind study identifies physiological changes in the transition to siblinghood more

Battle of the bins

In Australia, cockatoos and humans are in an arms race over garbage access more

Hawkmoth migration

By flying with hawkmoths during migration, scientists reveal the insects employ sophisticated flight strategies similar to vertebrates more

Chimpanzees combine calls to form numerous vocal sequences

Evidence of structured vocal sequences in wild chimpanzee communication provides insights into human language evolution more

No time to nap in nature

Sleep study on a troop of wild baboons reveals that sacrificing sleep to meet pressing demands is common—and might even be part of our evolutionary history more

Sailing in Darwin's wake

Eduardo Sampaio sailed for ten days along a section of the route of the MS Beagle more

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"Fish are not stupid, they're just different!"

Fish are his passion. Alex Jordan wants to know why they do what they do. An interview with the behavioural biologist more

"In my opinion, 'social distancing’ is the wrong term"

The primatologist Roman Wittig explains in this interview, why he prefers to speak in terms of "spatial” rather than “social” distancing, and how virtual (online) meetings can replace real meetings to a certain extent. more

Even chimpanzees and six-year-old infants want to punish antisocial behaviour more

Migration pays off for songbirds

Blackbirds that spend the winter in the south are more likely to survive the cold season than their conspecifics in central Europe more

Chimpanzees fill another’s knowledge gap

Researchers show that vocalizing in chimpanzees is influenced by social cognitive processes more

Chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys interfere with other group members’ relationships

Bystanders monitor and intervene into grooming interactions of their group members if these threaten their own status or social relationships more

Food odour enhances male flies’ attractiveness

When female flies smell their favorite food, they become more receptive to courting males more

shrew

The tiny mammals reduce the size of their organs in the winter and can even decrease and rebuild bones more

Icarus lifts off

The Icarus on-board computer, the first component of the global animal observatory system, has gone into space more

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Grey parrots help others to obtain food

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology based at the research station outpost for parrot comparative cognition in the Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, have shown that parrots exhibit a high level of social intelligence and cooperativeness. They readily help others, even when there is no immediate opportunity for reciprocation. Moreover, they reciprocate received favours and do not appear jealous, if conspecifics obtain a better reward than themselves. more

Dogs' clever minds

Dogs and humans have been living together for 15,000 years – a long time to get used to each other.  Behavioural biologists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig are investigating how well the animals have adapted to humans. They discovered that dogs are frequently better at understanding human gestures than other animal species. For example, dogs understand referential gestures, such as pointing, and realise they can get away with doing something forbidden when their owners just happen to be looking elsewhere. more

Bonobos - chimpanzees' gentle cousins

Bonobos - chimpanzees' gentle cousins more

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