Summary
Everything an animal does in response to stimuli, studied by ethology.
In depth
Ethologists Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch won the 1973 Nobel Prize. Behaviour can be studied from proximate (mechanism) and ultimate (evolutionary function) perspectives.
Researchers record behaviour in an ethogram, a catalogue of defined actions with their frequency and duration. Methods include focal-animal sampling, scan sampling and field experiments such as playbacks.
Common mistake: ascribing human motives to animals (anthropomorphism) instead of testing measurable hypotheses.
Frequently asked questions
What is Animal Behaviour?
Everything an animal does in response to stimuli, studied by ethology.
Which area of biology covers Animal Behaviour, and how advanced is it?
Animal Behaviour is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Tinbergen's Four Questions, Human Evolutionary Psychology, Instinct.
Can you give an example of Animal Behaviour?
A bird sings because of hormones (proximate) and to attract mates (ultimate).
What should I learn before Animal Behaviour?
Animal Behaviour is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour that pair well with it include Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, Instinct.
What topics are related to Animal Behaviour?
The closest topics to Animal Behaviour are Tinbergen's Four Questions, Human Evolutionary Psychology, Instinct, Migration Behaviour. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Animal Behaviour?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Animal Behaviour. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Animal Behaviour different from Tinbergen's Four Questions?
Animal Behaviour: Everything an animal does in response to stimuli, studied by ethology. Tinbergen's Four Questions: Ask about causation, development, function and evolution to fully explain any behaviour. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
What is a common mistake about Animal Behaviour?
Ascribing human motives to animals (anthropomorphism) instead of testing measurable hypotheses.
How should I study Animal Behaviour step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Tinbergen's Four Questions and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.