''Imprinting'' kod ptica

Imprint is a specialized type of learning that affects permanent and irreversible changes in the behavior of individuals. It is best explored in birds, even though it occurs in other animals as well, and main component of this phenomenon is the sensitive period. Filial imprinting, which allows a young to know its mother, and sexual, which enables it to recognize potential partners, are the two best-known types of imprinting. Both types are best explored in various bird species, and although they have some common characteristics, these two types of imprinting differ primarily with regard to the time when sensitive period appears. In addition, while the characteristic of filial imprinting is preferring individual that is considered to be its mother, in sexual imprinting, the animal creates preferences for features of species, and not particular individuals. Another important imprint type is song imprinting which allows young individuals to learn song of its own species. The effects of this phenomenon depend on many factors, such as species, time and duration of exposure to a particular stimulus, and in some species even gender. However, the imprinting is in many cases irreversible, as it is claimed in history of research, and complete understanding of it requires a lot of research.