All graylag geese exhibit a behavioral pattern known as "egg rolling." If an egg is displaced, they will use their neck and beak to roll the egg back into the nest. In all members of the species, this behavior is performed perfectly the first time without any prior experience. Additionally, if an egg is removed while a goose is egg rolling, the goose will still complete the behavioral pattern. Based on this information, egg rolling
A) must be a learned behavior.
B) is imprinted on newly hatched goslings.
C) is a fixed-action pattern.
D) is an example of associative learning.
E) is a classical conditioned behavior.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that all graylag geese exhibit perfect egg rolling behavior without any prior experience suggests that this behavior is innate and genetically determined, rather than learned. This is characteristic of a fixed-action pattern, which is a highly stereotyped, innate behavior that is triggered by a specific stimulus.

All Graylag Geese Exhibit a Behavioral Pattern Known as "Egg