Similar traits flamingos form cliques with like-minded friends: Study

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A recent study reveals that flamingos with similar psychological qualities "form cliques" with like-minded pals, proving the saying "birds of a feather do flock together" is true.

Similar to people, Chilean and Caribbean flamingos tend to group in cliques away from those differently wired.

For instance, it was discovered that more courageous birds tended to stick together while more timid flamingos formed other groups. 

Experts at the University of Exeter and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) carried out the research that would hopefully help us understand the evolution of social behavior in birds and particularly enhance the welfare of zoo flamingos.

The research was conducted by scientists observing captive Chilean and Caribbean flamingos at the wetland and wildlife reserve WWT Slimbridge. The two species are different in terms of color as the Caribbean flamingos have a brighter crimson or vermilion color, while the Chilean flamingos are pale pink.

The traits of each flamingo were first evaluated by measuring compatible individual differences, like a bird’s aggression or will to explore.

“Our previous research has shown that individual flamingos have particular friends within the flock,” Dr. Paul Rose, a Research Associate at WWT said, adding, “In this study, we wanted to find out whether individual character traits explain why these friendships form. The answer is yes: birds of a feather flock together.”

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Fionnuala McCully, a research student at Exeter who helped with collecting data, said that "flamingos appear to carve out different roles in society based on their personality", just like humans.

Groups of aggressive birds were observed and seemed to try "to dominate rivals and tend to get into more fights."

McCully added that submissive birds might have a more complex role "than simply being lower down the pecking order—they may be using a different approach to get what they need.”

Both species created their own cliques, but it was only among Caribbean flamingos where birds with a particular personality type had particular roles within their flock. In Chilean flamingos, the same evidence was not found.

Although the causes of this are now unknown, more research like this one may clarify these patterns. 

“Our findings need further investigation, both to help us understand the evolution of social behavior and to improve the welfare of zoo animals,” said Dr. Rose.

“But it is clear from this research that a flamingo’s social life is much more complicated than we first realized.”