Jimena Lois-Milevicich
@jimeloism.bsky.social
Biologist, PhD.
Postdoctoral researcher at University of Buenos Aires / CONICET
Postdoctoral researcher at University of Buenos Aires / CONICET
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
📢 New article out in PLOS BIology!
It was truly a pleasure and honour be a part of the core team members to lead this study and work alongside 129 collaborators from 82 institutions across 24 countries - the largest ever comparative study of neophobia in 🐦! 🥰
It was truly a pleasure and honour be a part of the core team members to lead this study and work alongside 129 collaborators from 82 institutions across 24 countries - the largest ever comparative study of neophobia in 🐦! 🥰
October 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
📢 New article out in PLOS BIology!
It was truly a pleasure and honour be a part of the core team members to lead this study and work alongside 129 collaborators from 82 institutions across 24 countries - the largest ever comparative study of neophobia in 🐦! 🥰
It was truly a pleasure and honour be a part of the core team members to lead this study and work alongside 129 collaborators from 82 institutions across 24 countries - the largest ever comparative study of neophobia in 🐦! 🥰
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Neophobia compared in 1,439 birds of 136 species
Specialised diets and migration are associated with greater fear of new objects. Surprisingly, witnessing such objects in groups is also associated with greater fear.
(paper) journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-10...
Specialised diets and migration are associated with greater fear of new objects. Surprisingly, witnessing such objects in groups is also associated with greater fear.
(paper) journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-10...
October 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Neophobia compared in 1,439 birds of 136 species
Specialised diets and migration are associated with greater fear of new objects. Surprisingly, witnessing such objects in groups is also associated with greater fear.
(paper) journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-10...
Specialised diets and migration are associated with greater fear of new objects. Surprisingly, witnessing such objects in groups is also associated with greater fear.
(paper) journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
October 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
October 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Fear of novelty varies across species & individuals, impacting adaptability & survival. @themanybirds.bsky.social @drrmiller.bsky.social &co assess #neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 #bird species, identifying phylogenetic influences & broad ecological drivers @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4haLEsN
The first empirical paper from @themanybirds.bsky.social is out in @PLOSBiology! 🎉 doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Thanks to our amazing collaborators, we tested neophobia in 130+ species across 25 taxonomic orders!🕊️🦜🐓🦚🦉🦆🐦🐧🦅
Thanks to our amazing collaborators, we tested neophobia in 130+ species across 25 taxonomic orders!🕊️🦜🐓🦚🦉🦆🐦🐧🦅
A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Neophobia (the aversive response to novelty) varies considerably across species and individuals, and can impact adaptability and survival. This study assesses neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 bird ...
doi.org
October 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The first empirical paper from @themanybirds.bsky.social is out in @PLOSBiology! 🎉 doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Thanks to our amazing collaborators, we tested neophobia in 130+ species across 25 taxonomic orders!🕊️🦜🐓🦚🦉🦆🐦🐧🦅
Thanks to our amazing collaborators, we tested neophobia in 130+ species across 25 taxonomic orders!🕊️🦜🐓🦚🦉🦆🐦🐧🦅
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Big thank you to our ManyBirds core leadership team: @drrmiller.bsky.social, Megan Lambert, @vedranaslipogor.bsky.social, @nomascus.bsky.social, @jimeloism.bsky.social, Carl Soulsbury, @stephanreber.bsky.social, Claudia Mettke-Hofmann - and to all of our collaborators!
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Big thank you to our ManyBirds core leadership team: @drrmiller.bsky.social, Megan Lambert, @vedranaslipogor.bsky.social, @nomascus.bsky.social, @jimeloism.bsky.social, Carl Soulsbury, @stephanreber.bsky.social, Claudia Mettke-Hofmann - and to all of our collaborators!
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
The #ManyBirds Project shows how big team open science approaches can uncover hidden patterns in animal behaviour and evolution, complementing critical in-depth single-lab work.
Huge thanks to everyone involved across six continents 🌍💛 More info & how to join future studies: 👉 www.themanybirds.com
Huge thanks to everyone involved across six continents 🌍💛 More info & how to join future studies: 👉 www.themanybirds.com
Home - Many Birds Projects
A Big-Team Open Science approach to avian cognition and behaviour research.
www.themanybirds.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The #ManyBirds Project shows how big team open science approaches can uncover hidden patterns in animal behaviour and evolution, complementing critical in-depth single-lab work.
Huge thanks to everyone involved across six continents 🌍💛 More info & how to join future studies: 👉 www.themanybirds.com
Huge thanks to everyone involved across six continents 🌍💛 More info & how to join future studies: 👉 www.themanybirds.com
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Birds tested in groups were more neophobic than those tested alone - likely waiting for others to take the risk first!
And individuals showed consistent behaviour over time, suggesting neophobia is a stable behavioural trait.
And individuals showed consistent behaviour over time, suggesting neophobia is a stable behavioural trait.
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Birds tested in groups were more neophobic than those tested alone - likely waiting for others to take the risk first!
And individuals showed consistent behaviour over time, suggesting neophobia is a stable behavioural trait.
And individuals showed consistent behaviour over time, suggesting neophobia is a stable behavioural trait.
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Two main ecological factors predicted neophobia:
🥗 Dietary specialisation – species with narrower diets were more fearful.
🧭 Migratory behaviour – migratory species were more cautious.
➡️ Supporting both the Neophobia Threshold & Dangerous Niche Hypotheses.
🥗 Dietary specialisation – species with narrower diets were more fearful.
🧭 Migratory behaviour – migratory species were more cautious.
➡️ Supporting both the Neophobia Threshold & Dangerous Niche Hypotheses.
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Two main ecological factors predicted neophobia:
🥗 Dietary specialisation – species with narrower diets were more fearful.
🧭 Migratory behaviour – migratory species were more cautious.
➡️ Supporting both the Neophobia Threshold & Dangerous Niche Hypotheses.
🥗 Dietary specialisation – species with narrower diets were more fearful.
🧭 Migratory behaviour – migratory species were more cautious.
➡️ Supporting both the Neophobia Threshold & Dangerous Niche Hypotheses.
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Across 1,439 birds from 136 species and 25 avian orders, we used standardised tests:
familiar food was presented with and without a novel object.
⏱️ Longer hesitation = higher neophobia.
Flamingos were cautious, falcons bold - big differences across species!
(Photo credit: @jimeloism.bsky.social)
familiar food was presented with and without a novel object.
⏱️ Longer hesitation = higher neophobia.
Flamingos were cautious, falcons bold - big differences across species!
(Photo credit: @jimeloism.bsky.social)
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Across 1,439 birds from 136 species and 25 avian orders, we used standardised tests:
familiar food was presented with and without a novel object.
⏱️ Longer hesitation = higher neophobia.
Flamingos were cautious, falcons bold - big differences across species!
(Photo credit: @jimeloism.bsky.social)
familiar food was presented with and without a novel object.
⏱️ Longer hesitation = higher neophobia.
Flamingos were cautious, falcons bold - big differences across species!
(Photo credit: @jimeloism.bsky.social)
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Neophobia - the fear of novelty - shapes how animals balance risk and opportunity.
Too much caution can limit flexibility, but too little can be dangerous.
We asked: why do some bird species fear new things more than others? 🐧🦅
Too much caution can limit flexibility, but too little can be dangerous.
We asked: why do some bird species fear new things more than others? 🐧🦅
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Neophobia - the fear of novelty - shapes how animals balance risk and opportunity.
Too much caution can limit flexibility, but too little can be dangerous.
We asked: why do some bird species fear new things more than others? 🐧🦅
Too much caution can limit flexibility, but too little can be dangerous.
We asked: why do some bird species fear new things more than others? 🐧🦅
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
🐦 Exciting news! Our new paper is out in PLOS Biology:
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia
Neophobia (the aversive response to novelty) varies considerably across species and individuals, and can impact adaptability and survival. This study assesses neophobia in 1400 subjects from 136 bird ...
journals.plos.org
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
🐦 Exciting news! Our new paper is out in PLOS Biology:
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
“A large-scale study across the avian clade identifies ecological drivers of neophobia.”
Led by the #ManyBirds Project - 129 researchers, 82 institutions, 24 countries 🌍
🔗 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
@themanybirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
🦅🧠 Bird Cognition 🧠🦅
Anyone who studies or is just fascinated by how birds perceive, learn, remember and solve problems 🐦
Let's all meet in this cool new #starterpack 🤩
Let me know if you want to join in too 🦜🦤🦉🦆🐣🪺🪶🧪
🔗 go.bsky.app/V2K7HQM
#Ornithology #Birds #AnimalBehaviour
Anyone who studies or is just fascinated by how birds perceive, learn, remember and solve problems 🐦
Let's all meet in this cool new #starterpack 🤩
Let me know if you want to join in too 🦜🦤🦉🦆🐣🪺🪶🧪
🔗 go.bsky.app/V2K7HQM
#Ornithology #Birds #AnimalBehaviour
March 7, 2025 at 12:38 PM
🦅🧠 Bird Cognition 🧠🦅
Anyone who studies or is just fascinated by how birds perceive, learn, remember and solve problems 🐦
Let's all meet in this cool new #starterpack 🤩
Let me know if you want to join in too 🦜🦤🦉🦆🐣🪺🪶🧪
🔗 go.bsky.app/V2K7HQM
#Ornithology #Birds #AnimalBehaviour
Anyone who studies or is just fascinated by how birds perceive, learn, remember and solve problems 🐦
Let's all meet in this cool new #starterpack 🤩
Let me know if you want to join in too 🦜🦤🦉🦆🐣🪺🪶🧪
🔗 go.bsky.app/V2K7HQM
#Ornithology #Birds #AnimalBehaviour
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
¡Buen martes! Hoy 🌨️🌩️⛈️ 26 de máx.
Cientificidio: si se cumple lo dispuesto en el Presupuesto 2025 y las expectativas de inflación, la inversión en ciencia nunca habrá sido tan baja: será la menor desde que empezó a medirse, en 1972👇
www.eldestapeweb.com/sociedad/pol...
Cientificidio: si se cumple lo dispuesto en el Presupuesto 2025 y las expectativas de inflación, la inversión en ciencia nunca habrá sido tan baja: será la menor desde que empezó a medirse, en 1972👇
www.eldestapeweb.com/sociedad/pol...
La inversión en ciencia y tecnología caería este año a su mínimo histórico
Un trabajo del grupo EPC la estima en un 0,157% del PBI, el menor porcentaje desde que se mide, en 1972; en 2002 fue del 0,17%
www.eldestapeweb.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM
¡Buen martes! Hoy 🌨️🌩️⛈️ 26 de máx.
Cientificidio: si se cumple lo dispuesto en el Presupuesto 2025 y las expectativas de inflación, la inversión en ciencia nunca habrá sido tan baja: será la menor desde que empezó a medirse, en 1972👇
www.eldestapeweb.com/sociedad/pol...
Cientificidio: si se cumple lo dispuesto en el Presupuesto 2025 y las expectativas de inflación, la inversión en ciencia nunca habrá sido tan baja: será la menor desde que empezó a medirse, en 1972👇
www.eldestapeweb.com/sociedad/pol...
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Fijate esto: el organismo que financia la ciencia en nuestro país recibió los fondos del BID pero no los entregó. El concurso se abrió en diciembre de 2023, ya se prorrogó 6 veces.
HOY, 11 de febrero sale NUEVA prórroga
Decime vos, si esto no es desmantelar al sistema,
que es?
HOY, 11 de febrero sale NUEVA prórroga
Decime vos, si esto no es desmantelar al sistema,
que es?
February 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Fijate esto: el organismo que financia la ciencia en nuestro país recibió los fondos del BID pero no los entregó. El concurso se abrió en diciembre de 2023, ya se prorrogó 6 veces.
HOY, 11 de febrero sale NUEVA prórroga
Decime vos, si esto no es desmantelar al sistema,
que es?
HOY, 11 de febrero sale NUEVA prórroga
Decime vos, si esto no es desmantelar al sistema,
que es?
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Our new study with @zewaldj.bsky.social on innovative food preparation in Goffins cockatoos just appeared in Current Biology: our results suggest that Goffins dunk noodles in selective yogurt mixtures to add flavour
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Innovative flavoring behavior in Goffin’s cockatoos
Dunking behavior can be a foraging innovation in non-human animals in which food is dipped in a medium prior to consumption.1 Five functions of this b…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Our new study with @zewaldj.bsky.social on innovative food preparation in Goffins cockatoos just appeared in Current Biology: our results suggest that Goffins dunk noodles in selective yogurt mixtures to add flavour
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
New blog entry about the awesome plush-crested jays 😍 nplus1.ru/news/2025/01... Thank you @nplusodin.bsky.social Link to the paper: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Плюшеголовые сойки не сумели воспользоваться инструментом
N + 1 — главное издание о науке, технике и технологиях
nplus1.ru
January 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
New blog entry about the awesome plush-crested jays 😍 nplus1.ru/news/2025/01... Thank you @nplusodin.bsky.social Link to the paper: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
Mechanical problem solving by plush-crested #jays with @jimeloism.bsky.social
dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100...
dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100...
Mechanical problem solving by plush-crested jays: are tools special after all? - Animal Cognition
Tool use is taxonomically associated with high behavioural flexibility and innovativeness, and its prevalence is greater in primates and some bird species. This association, however, is not known to b...
dx.doi.org
December 30, 2024 at 11:40 PM
Mechanical problem solving by plush-crested #jays with @jimeloism.bsky.social
dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100...
dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100...
@raulogomez-uba.bsky.social bienvenido a @bsky.app
December 21, 2024 at 2:59 PM
@raulogomez-uba.bsky.social bienvenido a @bsky.app
Thank you for preparing this! I hope to study them more 🐦⬛🐦⬛
1/4 Intelligence without tool-using capabilities
There has been much debate about whether tool use in nature is the result of advanced general cognition or whether it is due to particular adaptations.
(paper) https://buff.ly/4f1M6XP by @jimeloism.bsky.social
There has been much debate about whether tool use in nature is the result of advanced general cognition or whether it is due to particular adaptations.
(paper) https://buff.ly/4f1M6XP by @jimeloism.bsky.social
December 7, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Thank you for preparing this! I hope to study them more 🐦⬛🐦⬛
I'm so happy to announce that my beautiful & charismatic jays have been published 🐤New research on #cognition in Plush-crested jays, a corvid member. Thanks to my co-authors and #AnimalCognitionJournal
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 6, 2024 at 2:57 PM
I'm so happy to announce that my beautiful & charismatic jays have been published 🐤New research on #cognition in Plush-crested jays, a corvid member. Thanks to my co-authors and #AnimalCognitionJournal
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
We are also excited to officially open the call for submission of potential future studies: forms.gle/8WASqR1fvU1w.... Please see link for all info on process and planned review criteria. Deadline for submission is 31 May 2025. We welcome new ManyBirds collaborators to future studies! 5/
ManyBirds Project: Potential ManyBirds Studies
This is a form for submitting proposals for potential ManyBirds Project future studies (www.themanybirds.com).
Full submissions are confidential and will be reviewed by the ManyBirds Core Team Leads ...
forms.gle
November 25, 2024 at 12:34 PM
We are also excited to officially open the call for submission of potential future studies: forms.gle/8WASqR1fvU1w.... Please see link for all info on process and planned review criteria. Deadline for submission is 31 May 2025. We welcome new ManyBirds collaborators to future studies! 5/
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
We are delighted to announce that ManyBirds Study 1 “Evolutionary drivers of neophobia across the avian clade” is now available in pre-print: doi.org/10.31219/osf... and been submitted for peer-review publication. 1/
November 25, 2024 at 12:34 PM
We are delighted to announce that ManyBirds Study 1 “Evolutionary drivers of neophobia across the avian clade” is now available in pre-print: doi.org/10.31219/osf... and been submitted for peer-review publication. 1/
Reposted by Jimena Lois-Milevicich
The ManyBirds Project are now on Bluesky! Stay tuned for exciting project updates coming very shortly... 🦜 🦆 🪶 🦉 🦅
November 21, 2024 at 6:42 PM
The ManyBirds Project are now on Bluesky! Stay tuned for exciting project updates coming very shortly... 🦜 🦆 🪶 🦉 🦅