This is how flamingos form cliques

By James Gamble via SWNS

Birds of a feather really do flock together as flamingos with similar personality traits "form cliques" with like-minded friends, according to a new study.

In Chilean and Caribbean flamingos, birds with similar personality traits tended to form cliques separate from differently-wired peers, much like humans.

For example, bolder birds were shown to stick together, whilst more submissive flamingos formed another group.

The research, conducted by experts at the University of Exeter and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), is hoped to help us better understand the evolution of social behavior and improve the welfare of zoo animals.

To conduct the research, scientists observed captive Chilean and Caribbean flamingos at wetland and wildlife reserve WWT Slimbridge, between Bristol and Gloucestershire in the southwest of England.

The two species can be distinguished by their color differences: Caribbean flamingos display a brighter crimson or vermilion color, whilst Chilean flamingos are instead a pale pink.

The personalities of each of the flamingos were first assessed by measuring consistent individual differences - such as a bird's aggression or willingness to explore.

Dr. Paul Rose, a Research Associate at WWT and lecturer at the University of Exeter, explained: "Our previous research has shown that individual flamingos have particular friends within the flock.

"In this study, we wanted to find out whether individual character traits explain why these friendships form.

“The answer is yes: birds of a feather flock together.

“For example, bolder birds had stronger, more consistent ties with other bold birds, while submissive birds tended to spend their time with fellow submissive flamingos.”

Fionnuala McCully, who collected data for the study whilst studying for her Master's degree in Animal Behavior at the University of Exeter, added flamingos also appear to have different roles based on their differing personality traits.

McCully, who is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Liverpool, said: "Like humans, flamingos appear to carve out different roles in society based on their personality.

"For example, we observed groups of aggressive birds which attempt to dominate rivals and tend to get into more fights.

“Meanwhile, the role of submissive birds may be more complex than simply being lower down the pecking order – they may be using a different approach to get what they need.

“The various different personality groups provide social help to their members, for example, by supporting each other in the many squabbles that take place in flamingo flocks.”

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found Caribbean flamingos with a certain personality type had particular roles within their flock, though this same evidence was not found in Chilean flamingos.

Though the reasons for this are at present unclear, further studies like this could shed light on such patterns.

Dr. Rose concluded that the social lives of flamingo flocks are far more complicated than previously assumed.

He added: "Our findings need further investigation, both to help us understand the evolution of social behaviour and to improve the welfare of zoo animals.

“But it is clear from this research that a flamingo's social life is much more complicated than we first realized.”