Sex differences in learning flexibility in an avian brood parasite, the shiny cowbird

Females of brood parasitic shiny cowbirds, Molothrus bonariensis, search and prospect host nests, synchronizing parasitism with laying. This behavior is sex-specific, as females perform this task without male's assistance. Host nests must be removed from the female’s memory "library" after being parasitized, to avoid repeated parasitism, or when they become unavailable because predation. Thus, adjust their stored information about nest status more dynamically than males, possibly leading differences in learning flexibility. We tested for sex a visual (local cues) spatial discrimination reversal task, expecting outperform males an expression greater behavioral Both sexes learned faster during both acquisition reversal. In there were no acquisition, but reversed males. either reversal, ceiling effect: too fast performance detectable. Faster female not indicates that flexibility may only detectable above some level difficulty.