Neophobia in the foraging-site selection of a neotropical migrant bird: An experimental study

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Abstract
Chestnut-sided warblers (Dendroica pensylvanica) were hand-raised in a room with 8 experimental microhabitats; the microhabitats were removed after 6 wk. The response of the warblers to the 8 natal and 8 novel microhabitats were then measured in 2 experiments conducted 2 and 4 mo. after removal. Chestnut-sided warblers responded with decreased feeding latency (neophobia) and a greater preference for foraging at the natal microhabitats. An ontogenetic increase in neophobia may restict chestnut-sided warblers to foraging at microhabitats most similar to those experienced as juveniles.