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| Finches' personalities 'shown by head colour' | Finches' personalities 'shown by head colour' |
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| By Michelle Warwicker BBC Nature | By Michelle Warwicker BBC Nature |
| Gouldian finches have different personalities depending on the colour of their heads, researchers have found. | Gouldian finches have different personalities depending on the colour of their heads, researchers have found. |
| Scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and The Royal Veterinary College investigated the "highly sociable" Australian birds. | Scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and The Royal Veterinary College investigated the "highly sociable" Australian birds. |
| The team set the finches a series of behavioural tests to understand the purpose of their bright appearance. | The team set the finches a series of behavioural tests to understand the purpose of their bright appearance. |
| They found that red-headed finches were more aggressive, while black-headed birds were bolder and took more risks. | They found that red-headed finches were more aggressive, while black-headed birds were bolder and took more risks. |
| The findings are published in the journal Animal Behaviour. | The findings are published in the journal Animal Behaviour. |
| "Our idea is that the colour signals their behavioural tactics," said lead researcher Leah Williams. | "Our idea is that the colour signals their behavioural tactics," said lead researcher Leah Williams. |
| She explained that the research also suggests that "bolder" black-headed finches may act as "leaders" in a group. | She explained that the research also suggests that "bolder" black-headed finches may act as "leaders" in a group. |
| Gouldian finches are found in open, subtropical woodland and are known for their colourful plumage. | Gouldian finches are found in open, subtropical woodland and are known for their colourful plumage. |
| In the wild, the majority of the birds have black or red heads, although a very small number are yellow-headed. | In the wild, the majority of the birds have black or red heads, although a very small number are yellow-headed. |
| When Gouldian finches first hatch "they're actually all an olive brown colour," Ms Williams told BBC Nature. | When Gouldian finches first hatch "they're actually all an olive brown colour," Ms Williams told BBC Nature. |
| "After their first moult, when they're a couple of months old, that's when they get their colour." | "After their first moult, when they're a couple of months old, that's when they get their colour." |
| To test for aggressiveness, the team put out a feeder for two hungry birds, but with only enough room for one to feed. | To test for aggressiveness, the team put out a feeder for two hungry birds, but with only enough room for one to feed. |
| The red-headed finches displayed a more "fiery personality" than their black-headed peers, by displacing each other from the feeder and threatening other birds with an open beak. | The red-headed finches displayed a more "fiery personality" than their black-headed peers, by displacing each other from the feeder and threatening other birds with an open beak. |
| "The black-headed birds stay away from the red-headed birds because they're signalling that they're aggressive, and this stops them getting into an escalated conflict," said Ms Williams. | "The black-headed birds stay away from the red-headed birds because they're signalling that they're aggressive, and this stops them getting into an escalated conflict," said Ms Williams. |
| Black-headed birds, however, were found to be greater "risk-takers" around predators. | Black-headed birds, however, were found to be greater "risk-takers" around predators. |
| Researchers presented the finches with a cardboard cut-out silhouette of a hawk. After fleeing from the feeder, the black-headed finches returned faster than their red-headed peers after the "danger" had passed. | Researchers presented the finches with a cardboard cut-out silhouette of a hawk. After fleeing from the feeder, the black-headed finches returned faster than their red-headed peers after the "danger" had passed. |
| Black-headed finches were also quicker in approaching unfamiliar objects, such as bundles of string prepared by researchers. This showed them to be bolder than their red-headed counterparts. | Black-headed finches were also quicker in approaching unfamiliar objects, such as bundles of string prepared by researchers. This showed them to be bolder than their red-headed counterparts. |
| The research team now plans to find out if it is the birds' head colour that influences their personality, or whether it could be the other way round. | The research team now plans to find out if it is the birds' head colour that influences their personality, or whether it could be the other way round. |
| "The next step is to find out which birds associate with which," said Ms Williams. | "The next step is to find out which birds associate with which," said Ms Williams. |
| "Do reds hang out with blacks and do they do better for that?" | "Do reds hang out with blacks and do they do better for that?" |
| The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). |