I would like to know how these systems work in birds.
This is far too broad a question. Which behavior are you interested in? If you can be more specific, you might get an answer.
Dear William Braun,
Thanks for your attention. So, the systems related with parental behavior, for example.
Cheers,
This will vary a lot across species. Songbirds usually breed at a certain time of year, usually springtime. As the days lengthen in the spring, hormonal changes induce growth of gonads and increases in the brain tissue related to species song. Male birds typically establish territories and sing to announce their presence and to warn off other males. One or more females enter the territory. Mating is followed by further changes in hormonal secretions, leading to nest building. The appearance of eggs triggers incubation and development of a brood patch on the breast, an area devoid of feathers and well vascularized. The young hatchlings trigger foraging and feeding. Eventually the young birds leave the nest or are driven out by the parents.
Does that help?
If you're looking for something very general, but still very informative the Life of Birds has a great episode titled "The problems of parenthood." As William above mentioned, this varies greatly across species and the episode is more behavioral and ecologically based. It won't go into the specific hormonal cues and pathways, but it might with some of the environmental. Hope this helps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIw46rzx1Bc
In general, an individual bird's or other organism's behavior is based on the interaction of its nature (genes) and its nurture (experiential learning).
In other words, the well-known "nature vs. nurture" concept is not an "either-or" dichotomy; it expresses a continuum of behavioral influences.
Individual organisms vary in their genetic makeup and their experiential learning ability. In short, animal behavior is a complex mix of instinctive and learned behavior.
You might look up N. Tinbergen and K. Lorenz, two ethologists who greatly influenced the study of animal behavior:
Tinbergen
Lorenz
Ethology
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