Abstract: In anthropogenic habitats, humans can present both an opportunity and a threat to wildlife. In these situations, it may be beneficial for animals to use social information to learn about dangerous people and avoid direct encounters that could be costly. We tested whether jackdaws use social information to learn about the level of danger posed by unfamiliar people. Using a within-subjects design, jackdaws were presented with an unfamiliar person near their nest, paired with conspecific alarm calls or a neutral control. Jackdaws that heard alarm calls showed a heightened fear response in subsequent encounters with the person, suggesting that jackdaws use social learning to assess the level of risk posed by people.

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