Aggressive than country cousins
BIRDS that live in cities are far more aggressive and bolder than those that live in the countryside, research has revealed.
Great tits defend their territory with much more aggression if they live in an urban area, the study by Aberystwyth University found.
Scientists at the Welsh university’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences believe birds adjust their behaviour depending on their habitat – and the amount of human interference they are exposed to.
While urban tits are brazen and curmudgeonly, which scientists believe is because they are being constantly stressed by humans, their country cousins are far more lackadaisical.
As part of his PhD, Dr Sam Hardman tested whether urban and rural birds exhibited differences in “personality”. He said: “At this time of year males establish territories for the breeding season and they defend these aggressively against intruding males of the same species.
“We simulated a territorial intruder by playing back recordings of great tit song from a loudspeaker in the centre of the territory, and monitored the resident birds’ responses to defend that territory.”
The study took place in the centres of Leicester and Derby and in the surrounding countryside.
Researchers measured a number of responses, including territorial singing and how quickly and closely the birds approached the perceived intruder.
Urban birds flew towards the sound 35.34 seconds faster than rural birds – and came 5ft closer.