Figure 2.

Methods and model. (a) Laboratory tracking technology: (i) laboratory-housed zebra finches wearing barcode-labelled backpacks that computer software can simultaneously track from video and/or photo recordings to reveal (ii) within-group social networks such as dominance hierarchies—for example, in this simulated network bird 4 displaced the most conspecifics and is thus the most dominant bird (i.e. has the biggest circle). (b) Field tracking technology: (i) a blue tit fitted with a (black) leg ring PIT tag that can communicate with (ii) a wired feeding station to (iii) timestamp individual feeding events; these stations could be modified to offer and record the choice of coloured nest material, (iv) which nest-building birds will use. (c) Zebra finches present one potential model ‘cultural’ system, as their nest construction can be studied experimentally under both (i,ii) laboratory and (iii) field conditions. Image credit: top panel, (i) Adriana Maldonado-Chaparro; middle panel, (i–iii) Friederike Hillemann and (vi) Michael Saynor; bottom panel, (i, ii) Eira Ihalainen and (iii) Chris Bellette.