Bolder, older, and selective: factors of individual-specific foraging strategies in Steller's jays

Foragers may use a number of strategies to choose among alternative food items: choosing randomly, sampling to a fixed threshold, or taking the best out of a subset. Little is known about individuals' consistency in employing these strategies and whether they covary with individuals' willingness to take risks. I quantified food sampling behavior (i.e. latency to choose, number of items sampled, and number taken) of individual Steller's jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) during experimental field trials. Sampling behavior of individual jays was moderately repeatable within and between years and was positively correlated with birds' willingness to approach and take food in front of a predator mount. These results suggest that food sampling behaviors can be an additional measurable component in the suite of traits comprising a behavioral syndrome in this species. Number of items sampled and frequency of taking multiple items was also positively correlated with bird age, and number of items sampled was positively correlated with body size in males. This suggests that experience and size parameters may additionally influence individuals' habitual foraging strategies.