Visual recognition of individual conspecific males by female zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata

•Female zebra finches are able to visually recognize their mates.•Visual recognition of other conspecifics depends on their level of social relations.•Zebra finches demonstrate different levels of social relations within the flock.•These social relationships are long-lasting and stable.•Zebra finches can be actively trained to peck on a digital screen for food reward.

The aim of this study was to determine whether visual recognition of conspecifics exists in zebra finches, and if so, whether the strength of this recognition is a function of the social relationships among flock members. To achieve this aim, we trained adult female zebra finches to indicate their preference by pecking on one of two photographs presented on a digital screen. We found that female zebra finches possessed a very good ability to recognize their mates, and a slightly lower but still good ability to recognize other, socially closely related males that were members of their own small flock. Moreover, we found that the individual integrity of the small flocks continued to be maintained, as subgroups, even after these were combined to form one large flock, indicating that zebra finches demonstrate different levels of social relationships between flock members, and that these relationships are long-lasting and stable. However, when part of a larger flock, the females were unable to recognize males that were socially distant to them.