Examples of animals that imprint include ducks, chickens, turkeys, penguins, and geese.
Imprinting in animals is a form of learning that occurs during a critical period early in development. It is a special type of behavior where an animal learns to identify with and follow the first moving object it sees after birth or hatching.
This can be dangerous for young birds because they may imprint on something like a plastic bag floating by their nest and then fly away from the safety of their parents to meet whatever they have been programmed to find.
Imprinting can be a very powerful way for animals to learn about their environment and the different types of organisms they will come across as adults.
Examples of Animals that Imprint
1. Chickens
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus domesticus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Chickens Imprinting on their mothers is important for the chicks to learn where to find food and safety. If a chicken’s mother is killed or disappears, the chick will often imprint on the first human it sees and follow them around.
This can be a problem if someone wants to keep chickens as pets because they will become very attached to their new “mom” and may not want to leave her side.
In the wild, this imprinting behavior helps chicks learn about their environment and how to find food.
2. Ducks
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Ducks are another example of animals that imprint on their parents. Baby ducks will follow their mother around and learn what foods to eat and where to find safety.
If a mother duck is killed and a baby duck sees another mother-like animal, it will try to imprint on them instead.
Some people have had ducks follow their pet dogs around because the dog looks like a caring parent.
3. Geese
| Scientific Name | Anatidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Geese are a great example of how imprinting can be used to create strong family ties. After hatching, geese will follow their mother around and learn her habits and routines.
If the mother is killed or removed from the nest, the goslings will imprint on the first moving object they see which is often the person who found them or a nearby animal.
These birds will then imprint on people and follow them around like a dog.
4. Turkeys
| Scientific Name | Meleagris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Western Asia and Southeastern Europe |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Turkeys are a great example of animals that imprint. In the wild, turkeys will typically follow their mothers for up to six months after they hatch from eggs.
During this time, young turkeys learn how to survive on their own and what is safe or dangerous in their surroundings. When humans get involved with turkey chicks during this early period, the chicks can imprint on them instead of their mothers.
This means that when these turkeys grow up, they will follow and look to humans for guidance rather than sticking with other turkeys.
In some cases, this can be a problem if people try to release these birds back into the wild because they may not know how to fend for themselves.
5. Penguins
| Scientific Name | Spheniscidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Antarctica |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Imprinting in penguins is one of the most interesting examples in nature. In a study, scientists removed baby African penguin chicks from their nests and swapped them with Asian ones to see if they would follow an “Asian” or “African” object when released into the wild later on.
The results were surprising! The young birds followed humans who moved like African penguins, but they also followed humans who moved like Asian ones.
In the wild, adult African and Asian penguins look quite different from one another. It was surprising to see that these young birds were not influenced by what a potential parent looked like in regards to how it moved or appeared in general.
This study shows that African penguins are very flexible in the way they learn and that they can even adapt to different human behaviors, which could be important for their conservation.
What Is Imprinting in Animals?
Imprinting is the process where an animal, usually a young one, learns to identify its own species and learn the appropriate social behaviors.
It usually occurs in the first few weeks or months of life. The young animal will learn to follow and imitate the adults of its own species.
It is important for the survival of the young animal, as it teaches them how to interact with their own kind.
Types of Imprinting
Imprinting usually takes place during a particular period of time when baby animals are most impressionable – either just after birth or while going through puberty. In some cases, it can even happen before the animal is born, if they are able to smell and hear their caretakers.
There are a few different types of imprinting: Filial Imprinting, Sexual Imprinting, and Social Imprinting.
Filial Imprinting
Filial Imprinting happens when young animals learn to recognize their parents as the source of food and protection.
This type of imprinting is seen in a lot of different species, from birds to mammals. Baby animals will often follow their parents around and mimic their behavior, learning the skills they need to survive.
Sexual Imprinting
Sexual Imprinting occurs when young animals learn to identify their own species as the object of attraction.
This happens during puberty when the animal is starting to develop their adult characteristics and hormones are raging.
They will usually fixate on an older member of their species, who they see as the most desirable mate.
Social Imprinting
Social Imprinting happens when young animals learn to recognize social cues from other members of their species.
This can include things like recognizing friends and family, learning how to communicate, and following the herd/pack mentality.
It’s especially important for animals that live in social groups, like lions or wolves, so they can learn how to get along with others and cooperate.
Do Humans Imprint on Other Humans?
Some people believe that humans imprint on other humans, just as certain animals do. For example, a baby may form an attachment to their primary caregiver and follow them around constantly.
This is sometimes called “attachment parenting”. Some experts believe that this close bond can have long-term benefits for the child, such as increased intelligence and empathy.
Others believe that it can lead to problems such as clinginess or difficulty forming relationships later in life.
More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of human imprinting.
Why Is It Bad for Animals to Imprint on Humans?
One of the primary concerns with imprinting is that it can interfere with an animal’s ability to form natural social relationships.
For example, if a duck imprints on a human, it may become too attached to people and not be able to interact properly with other ducks.
This can lead to problems for the animal when it is released into the wild.
Animals that imprint on humans can be difficult to rehabilitate and may not fit into their natural social grouping, which is harmful to the animal’s health and wellbeing.
Pet owners should never force an animal to interact with them if it wants to avoid interactions or shows signs of distress towards potential contact with humans.
However, creating a strong bond and allowing the animal to form a positive association with humans can help create an environment where it is comfortable around people.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.