Final answer:
The observed behavior of parrots learning to eat a new fruit by watching another parrot is an example of learned behavior, contrasting with innate behaviors that are hardwired and performed without prior experience. Communication plays a fundamental role in both types of behaviors, facilitating survival and social interactions within a species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior of the flock of parrots that began eating the fruit after observing one parrot demonstrates a type of learned behavior. This scenario is an example of social learning, where animals observe and then mimic the actions of others in their species, which is especially common in various bird species. Such behaviors are not innate but are acquired through observation and imitation within a social context.
In the context provided, there are instances of both innate and learned behaviors. Innate behaviors are those that are hardwired and performed without prior experience or training, such as pecking at a red spot on a mother gull's beak to be fed, known as gaping. Learned behaviors, on the other hand, are acquired by observing others or through direct experience. For instance, migration habits can be taught by one generation to the next, and mobbing calls or scolding calls used by small birds to defend against predators are also examples of learned behaviors that have been naturally selected due to their effectiveness.
Communication within a Species
Communication is key to many of these behaviors, whether the behaviors are innate or learned. From mating rituals to alarm calls, the sharing of information within a species is critical for survival and reproduction. Different forms of communication, whether through visual signals, sounds, or behaviors, can indicate various needs or dangers and play a major role in the social structures and survival strategies of birds and other animals.