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Science 11 February 1977:
Vol. 195. no. 4278, pp. 580 - 582
DOI: 10.1126/science.195.4278.580
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Articles

Visual Detection of Cryptic Prey by Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata)

ALEXANDRA T. PIETREWICZ 1 and ALAN C. KAMIL 1

1 Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01002

Blue jays learned to respond differentially to the presence or absence of Catocala moths in slides. This detection of the moths by the jays was affected by the background upon which the moth was placed and its body orientation, thus providing an objective measure of crypticity. These procedures are useful for the study of visual detection of prey.

Submitted on February 4, 1976
Revised on August 6, 1976


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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