Socialization, that is, the process of the integration of an individual into the social system and the acquisition of basic
social traits, has been studied in a variety of vertebrate species. Deprivation experiments have shown that the lack of early
affiliative relationships has negative long-term effects on social behaviour and reproduction. Most studies emphasized the
importance of the mother-infant relationship. However, it soon became evident that peer relationships to like-aged conspecifics,
such as siblings and unrelated juveniles of nearly the same age, are also important for socialization. Whether individuals,
deprived of one of these important social components, are able to compensate for this lack is not known. Here I tested the
hypothesis that in spectacled parrotlets (
Forpus conspicillatus), singletons (i.e., those that grew up without siblings) were able to compensate for this social lack by establishing and
strengthening other relationships. In spectacled parrotlets socialization depends on the formation of long-lasting sibling
groups. However, singletons without nest mates are quite common (about 6%), both in captivity and in nature. In this study
I analysed the affiliative interactions with other group members of five singletons in comparison to eight siblings, from
fledging to the 36th week after fledging, within a group of adult and juvenile conspecifics. In contrast to siblings, the
singletons prolonged the relationships with their parents. Then they established a ”host sibling group” with other like-aged
individuals. All singletons became well integrated into the group and established exclusive pair bonds. It is concluded that
juvenile singletons of spectacled parrotlets are able to compensate for the lack of siblings by the development of alternative
socialization tactics.
Key words Socialization - Spectacled parrotlets - Compensation - Siblings - Singletons
Received: 12 December 1998 / Received in revised form: 17 May 1999 / Accepted: 7 June 1999