Pigeons rapidly transmit information about predator location through gaze-following

Abstract

Animals in groups benefit from the social transmission of key information, such as when a predator appears. However, ambiguous social cues may lead to false alarms. Gaze-following --aligning gaze direction with others-- could mitigate this risk by allowing individuals to verify predator location prior to costly escape. However, its role in collective vigilance remains unclear. Here, we experimentally show that pigeons (Columba livia domestica) foraging in flocks use gaze-following to detect predator location, before initiating evasion. We used high-resolution head tracking to reconstruct visual fields and estimate foveal orientation toward the predator stimulus. We quantified social transmission of predator location using a dynamic multi-network Bayesian diffusion model. In addition to personal information, pigeons responded to the duration of conspecific gaze toward the predator, rather than alternative cues, such as locomotion or head-up vigilance. Gaze following can act as an early mechanism for transmitting predator-related information in a flock.