Architectural traditions in the structures built by cooperative weaver birds
Humans cooperate to build complex structures with culture-specific architectural styles. However, they are not the only animals to build complex structures nor to have culture. We show that social groups of white-browed sparrow weavers (<i>Plocepasser mahali</i>) build structures (nests for breeding and multiple single-occupant roosts for sleeping) that differ architecturally among groups. Morphological differences are consistent across years and are clear even among groups with territories a few meters apart. These repeatable differences are not explained by among-group variation in local weather conditions, bird size, tree height, or patterns of genetic relatedness. Architectural styles are also robust to the immigration of birds from other groups.
Authors
- Susan D. Healy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8059-4480)
- Lauren M. Guillette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8777-6543)
- Maria C. Tello-Ramos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0945-3498)
- Pablo Capilla‐Lasheras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6091-7089)
- Xavier A. Harrison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2004-3601)
- Lucy Harper
- Andrew J. Young (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0560-6549)
- Isabella Tortora-Brayda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4178-9119)
Institutions
- University of Alberta (CA)
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Swiss Ornithological Institute (CH)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2024-08-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adn2573
- Citations
- 18
- Primary Topic
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 18.52
Funders
- National Geographic Society
- University of St Andrews
- University of Pretoria
- Canada Research Chairs
- Templeton World Charity Foundation
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council