The Function of Tool Switching Behavior During Tool Choice in Goffin's Cockatoos

Abstract

Tool use is a well-studied domain in animal cognition, often seen as a marker of advanced intelligence. Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana) have demonstrated complex tool-use abilities in experimental settings [1], [2], [3]. During tool choice tasks, researchers have repeatedly observed that individuals switch between different tools before making a final choice [1]. Prior research has shown that cockatoos perform better when they engage in switching behavior than when they do not, suggesting that switching may be an active information-seeking strategy rather than a byproduct of indecision [1].

This study investigates the function of tool-switching behavior more systematically by examining its relationship with task difficulty, success rate, and the role of physical contact during decision-making. Through a controlled experimental design that manipulates access to tools and task complexity, the goal is to clarify whether switching serves a functional cognitive role that supports better success in tool choice.

The experimental design includes 19 adult Goffin’s cockatoos familiar with the tools and apparatuses. Birds are divided into two groups: one is allowed to touch and switch between tools freely, while the other can interact with only one tool before the others are removed. Each trial requires the bird to choose from a selection of tools (stick, hook, ring, ball, cross) to retrieve a reward from an apparatus. Task difficulty is manipulated across three levels, and a later phase introduces a contact control apparatus to test the importance of physical interaction. Trials are randomized, and sessions are video recorded. Behavior is coded for tool switching, choice accuracy, and task success.

Data collection is ongoing, but based on prior research [1], we expect switching to increase with task complexity and to be positively associated with success rates. If switching reflects active information gathering, birds should switch more often between functionally different tools than identical ones. Switching is also expected to occur more frequently after incorrect first choices, indicating its role in error correction. In the contact control condition, birds prevented from touching tools are expected to perform worse than those allowed tactile exploration, supporting the hypothesis that physical interaction plays a role in decision-making.

By investigating the function of tool switching, we aim to clarify whether switching reflects a meaningful cognitive strategy rather than random behavior. More broadly, we aim to deepen understanding of how the interaction between exploration and decision-making supports cognitive flexibility and problem-solving in non-human animals.

References

[1] P. J. Lambert, A. Stiegler, T. Rössler, M. L. Lambert, and A. M. I. Auersperg, “Goffin’s cockatoos discriminate objects based on weight alone,” Biology Letters, vol. 17, no. 9, 2021.

[2] M. O’Hara, et al., “Wild Goffin’s cockatoos flexibly manufacture and use tool sets,” Current Biology, vol. 31, no. 20, pp. 4512–4520.e6, 2021.

[3] A. J. Osuna-Mascaró, R. Mundry, S. Tebbich, S. R. Beck, and A. M. I. Auersperg, “Innovative composite tool use by Goffin’s cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana),” Scientific Reports, vol. 12, p. 1510, 2022.