Katy Willcox, PhD
@katywillcox.bsky.social
Kathryn (Katy) Willcox | PhD @ecobird.bsky.social
social environments <-> behaviour and cognition🐥🐦🦦🐝
❤️ welfare & outreach, also 🎶🎨🎮🎲👩🍳🌿 | she/her
social environments <-> behaviour and cognition🐥🐦🦦🐝
❤️ welfare & outreach, also 🎶🎨🎮🎲👩🍳🌿 | she/her
Pinned
Excited to share that last week I successfully defended my PhD thesis 🎉
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Join us for your bachelor or master projects on Japanese macaque affect & cognition at the Affenberg Research Station in Austria. Details in the photo 👇
Write to us: [email protected] / [email protected]
Project abstract link: gepris.dfg.de/project/5630...
Write to us: [email protected] / [email protected]
Project abstract link: gepris.dfg.de/project/5630...
September 30, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Join us for your bachelor or master projects on Japanese macaque affect & cognition at the Affenberg Research Station in Austria. Details in the photo 👇
Write to us: [email protected] / [email protected]
Project abstract link: gepris.dfg.de/project/5630...
Write to us: [email protected] / [email protected]
Project abstract link: gepris.dfg.de/project/5630...
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Super mega stocked to share this ⭐new review ⭐ on the impact of urbanisation on social learning.
tinyurl.com/2pt6s6zs
tinyurl.com/2pt6s6zs
Client Challenge
tinyurl.com
September 24, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Super mega stocked to share this ⭐new review ⭐ on the impact of urbanisation on social learning.
tinyurl.com/2pt6s6zs
tinyurl.com/2pt6s6zs
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
I'm so excited to finally see the special issue "Addressing Biases in Animal Behaviour" fully published: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu.... Huge thanks to my brilliant co-editors @viveknityananda.bsky.social & @nicolakoyama.bsky.social. Special issue grew from @asab.org's 2024 Winter Meeting 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com
September 23, 2026 at 11:03 AM
I'm so excited to finally see the special issue "Addressing Biases in Animal Behaviour" fully published: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu.... Huge thanks to my brilliant co-editors @viveknityananda.bsky.social & @nicolakoyama.bsky.social. Special issue grew from @asab.org's 2024 Winter Meeting 🧵
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Our latest microgrant funding round is open now! 📢
Below is a reminder of what we do and don't fund. This round closes October 30th!
Want to help us support students? Please spread the word, and donate if you can!
For more informaition and to apply: opencollective.com/animal-behaviour-collective
Below is a reminder of what we do and don't fund. This round closes October 30th!
Want to help us support students? Please spread the word, and donate if you can!
For more informaition and to apply: opencollective.com/animal-behaviour-collective
September 21, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Our latest microgrant funding round is open now! 📢
Below is a reminder of what we do and don't fund. This round closes October 30th!
Want to help us support students? Please spread the word, and donate if you can!
For more informaition and to apply: opencollective.com/animal-behaviour-collective
Below is a reminder of what we do and don't fund. This round closes October 30th!
Want to help us support students? Please spread the word, and donate if you can!
For more informaition and to apply: opencollective.com/animal-behaviour-collective
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Fantastic to see ABC mentor @williamohearn.bsky.social and his former mentee @giuliaseverino.bsky.social at @ecbb2026.bsky.social! Huge congratulations to Giulia for winning the #ECBB2026 Best Early Career Primate Presentation Prize! 👏🐒
Follow us to hear about our next mentorship-matching events 🤝
Follow us to hear about our next mentorship-matching events 🤝
September 11, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Fantastic to see ABC mentor @williamohearn.bsky.social and his former mentee @giuliaseverino.bsky.social at @ecbb2026.bsky.social! Huge congratulations to Giulia for winning the #ECBB2026 Best Early Career Primate Presentation Prize! 👏🐒
Follow us to hear about our next mentorship-matching events 🤝
Follow us to hear about our next mentorship-matching events 🤝
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Got caught by surprise with the award! Thank you @ecbb2026.bsky.social !!
Forgot to take a photo of my poster, but here's a glimpse of it featuring the showstopper Paul. ✨😁
Forgot to take a photo of my poster, but here's a glimpse of it featuring the showstopper Paul. ✨😁
September 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Got caught by surprise with the award! Thank you @ecbb2026.bsky.social !!
Forgot to take a photo of my poster, but here's a glimpse of it featuring the showstopper Paul. ✨😁
Forgot to take a photo of my poster, but here's a glimpse of it featuring the showstopper Paul. ✨😁
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Growing up demands the right cognitive toolkit at the right time 🧠
We show cognitive development over key life transitions from ontogeny to adulthood in wild meerkats. 🚨 Read our new findings👇🏼
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Great Thanks to @royalsocietypublishing.org @templetonworld.bsky.social @snsf.ch
We show cognitive development over key life transitions from ontogeny to adulthood in wild meerkats. 🚨 Read our new findings👇🏼
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Great Thanks to @royalsocietypublishing.org @templetonworld.bsky.social @snsf.ch
Cognitive abilities show distinct developmental trajectories in wild meerkats
Abstract. Understanding cognitive development is fundamental for explaining variation in adult cognitive phenotypes, and thus the processes driving cogniti
doi.org
September 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Growing up demands the right cognitive toolkit at the right time 🧠
We show cognitive development over key life transitions from ontogeny to adulthood in wild meerkats. 🚨 Read our new findings👇🏼
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Great Thanks to @royalsocietypublishing.org @templetonworld.bsky.social @snsf.ch
We show cognitive development over key life transitions from ontogeny to adulthood in wild meerkats. 🚨 Read our new findings👇🏼
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Great Thanks to @royalsocietypublishing.org @templetonworld.bsky.social @snsf.ch
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Thank you to the organisers of @ecbb2026.bsky.social for allowing us to spread the word about our microgrants & mentorship at their brilliant, inclusive conference! #ECBB2026
Our next migrogrant funding round opens this month! Save the date 🗓️
Our next migrogrant funding round opens this month! Save the date 🗓️
September 5, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Thank you to the organisers of @ecbb2026.bsky.social for allowing us to spread the word about our microgrants & mentorship at their brilliant, inclusive conference! #ECBB2026
Our next migrogrant funding round opens this month! Save the date 🗓️
Our next migrogrant funding round opens this month! Save the date 🗓️
@vernouilleta.bsky.social & Elias Garcia-Pelegrin put together such an interesting and varied symposium on Social Cognition in a Human World #ECBB2026 🌍🐤
September 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM
@vernouilleta.bsky.social & Elias Garcia-Pelegrin put together such an interesting and varied symposium on Social Cognition in a Human World #ECBB2026 🌍🐤
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
How can we improve the study of lizard cognition? @birgitszabo.bsky.social opens with first explaining why we study lizard cognition!
September 2, 2026 at 9:46 AM
How can we improve the study of lizard cognition? @birgitszabo.bsky.social opens with first explaining why we study lizard cognition!
Had such a fun week at @ecbb2026.bsky.social !! Lots of exciting talks and so many lovely and inspiring people. Very grateful to the organisers & to ASAB for my travel grant! 🐤 #ecbb2026
September 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Had such a fun week at @ecbb2026.bsky.social !! Lots of exciting talks and so many lovely and inspiring people. Very grateful to the organisers & to ASAB for my travel grant! 🐤 #ecbb2026
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Great few days at #ECBB2026 in Cambridge: great talks, great people, and plenty of ideas to bring home 🧠🐔
And, of course, I kept spreading the chicken agenda: they’re not just farm animals, but fascinating models for understanding behavior and cognition.
And, of course, I kept spreading the chicken agenda: they’re not just farm animals, but fascinating models for understanding behavior and cognition.
September 4, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Great few days at #ECBB2026 in Cambridge: great talks, great people, and plenty of ideas to bring home 🧠🐔
And, of course, I kept spreading the chicken agenda: they’re not just farm animals, but fascinating models for understanding behavior and cognition.
And, of course, I kept spreading the chicken agenda: they’re not just farm animals, but fascinating models for understanding behavior and cognition.
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
#ECBB2026 @vitorhbf.bsky.social closing out Symposium 10: Social cognition in a human world with his talk Humans as social partners? Experience and selection history shape responses in domestic chickens
September 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
#ECBB2026 @vitorhbf.bsky.social closing out Symposium 10: Social cognition in a human world with his talk Humans as social partners? Experience and selection history shape responses in domestic chickens
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
New paper out! 🎉 Common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) have spread far beyond their native African range, reaching cooler regions - so how do they cope when temperatures drop?
doi.org/10.1016/j.cb...
@ecobird.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.cb...
@ecobird.bsky.social
July 22, 2026 at 8:49 AM
New paper out! 🎉 Common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) have spread far beyond their native African range, reaching cooler regions - so how do they cope when temperatures drop?
doi.org/10.1016/j.cb...
@ecobird.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.cb...
@ecobird.bsky.social
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
We are thrilled to announce that this microgrant funding round we distributed ~£1300 to 7 recipients! 🎉
The next funding round opens September 21st!
Learn more about how to donate or apply: opencollective.com/animal-behav...
The next funding round opens September 21st!
Learn more about how to donate or apply: opencollective.com/animal-behav...
July 12, 2026 at 1:43 PM
We are thrilled to announce that this microgrant funding round we distributed ~£1300 to 7 recipients! 🎉
The next funding round opens September 21st!
Learn more about how to donate or apply: opencollective.com/animal-behav...
The next funding round opens September 21st!
Learn more about how to donate or apply: opencollective.com/animal-behav...
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Our paper is out now! 🎉📝
We describe how we work to address barriers faced by students and early-career researchs in the animal behaviour field, through our mentorships and microgrants. We hope that this can inspire and provide practical resources for others hoping to do the same!
We describe how we work to address barriers faced by students and early-career researchs in the animal behaviour field, through our mentorships and microgrants. We hope that this can inspire and provide practical resources for others hoping to do the same!
The animal behaviour collective: building confidence and breaking barriers through community
Despite increasing efforts to diversify the field of animal behaviour, systemic barriers continue to limit access and inclusion for researchers from h…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 7, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Our paper is out now! 🎉📝
We describe how we work to address barriers faced by students and early-career researchs in the animal behaviour field, through our mentorships and microgrants. We hope that this can inspire and provide practical resources for others hoping to do the same!
We describe how we work to address barriers faced by students and early-career researchs in the animal behaviour field, through our mentorships and microgrants. We hope that this can inspire and provide practical resources for others hoping to do the same!
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Keeping the Pride Spirit Alive! 🌈
Hope you all celebrated this past month! We’ve gathered some fascinating examples of queer behaviour in nature to share with you.
Hope you all celebrated this past month! We’ve gathered some fascinating examples of queer behaviour in nature to share with you.
![Queer behaviour is common in nature. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, 31% of Laysan albatross pairs were found to be female-female[1. In clownfish groups, when the dominant female dies, the next-in-line male changes sex to become leader[2]. Bonobos engage in frequent same-sex sexual interactions, which may facilitate cooperation[3]. Such behaviouR Was historically understudied due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:a7qp5co2mtrhjx3p4zoqe3mx/bafkreifoizjiatomoepgaztnqzbsnvt5uhwqrvjydr4qc6a3pcbgark72a)
July 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Keeping the Pride Spirit Alive! 🌈
Hope you all celebrated this past month! We’ve gathered some fascinating examples of queer behaviour in nature to share with you.
Hope you all celebrated this past month! We’ve gathered some fascinating examples of queer behaviour in nature to share with you.
Very grateful for my amazing jury!!
Thank you also to the thesis evaluation committee, Prof. Lara Bardi, Prof. Frank Tuyttens, Dr. Lucy Mitchell @lucyjmitchell.bsky.social as internal examiners, and especially to Prof. Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato @tyroneluconxiccato.bsky.social and Dr. Maria Loconsole for acting as external examiners!
July 6, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Very grateful for my amazing jury!!
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
A huge congratulations to newly-appointed Dr. Katy Willcox!!! @katywillcox.bsky.social 🍾🎉
For her thesis @ecobird.bsky.social, Katy evaluated the influence of early-life social environments on inhibition, aggression, & social networks in chickens & quails 🐥
For her thesis @ecobird.bsky.social, Katy evaluated the influence of early-life social environments on inhibition, aggression, & social networks in chickens & quails 🐥
July 3, 2026 at 7:34 AM
A huge congratulations to newly-appointed Dr. Katy Willcox!!! @katywillcox.bsky.social 🍾🎉
For her thesis @ecobird.bsky.social, Katy evaluated the influence of early-life social environments on inhibition, aggression, & social networks in chickens & quails 🐥
For her thesis @ecobird.bsky.social, Katy evaluated the influence of early-life social environments on inhibition, aggression, & social networks in chickens & quails 🐥
Excited to share that last week I successfully defended my PhD thesis 🎉
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
July 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Excited to share that last week I successfully defended my PhD thesis 🎉
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
I am beyond grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, I couldn’t have done it alone!
#PhDone
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
Our first round of ABC microgrants for 2026 is done, and for the first time, we were able to fund each and every eligible application! 🎉🎉🎉
We funded a total of 5 applications – this was made possible thanks to our generous donors! 🙏🏽
We funded a total of 5 applications – this was made possible thanks to our generous donors! 🙏🏽
February 21, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Our first round of ABC microgrants for 2026 is done, and for the first time, we were able to fund each and every eligible application! 🎉🎉🎉
We funded a total of 5 applications – this was made possible thanks to our generous donors! 🙏🏽
We funded a total of 5 applications – this was made possible thanks to our generous donors! 🙏🏽
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
📣 I am excited to share some new collaborative work published in Biology Letter @royalsocietypublishing.org on spatial learning and lateralisation in lizards 🦎! Check out the full OA paper here:
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
#AnimalCognition #ThinkLikeALizard
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
#AnimalCognition #ThinkLikeALizard
Spatial learning and lateralization in lizards
Abstract. Spatial memory is a fundamental cognitive process that allows animals to navigate and interact with their environment effectively. While extensiv
doi.org
February 19, 2026 at 6:04 AM
📣 I am excited to share some new collaborative work published in Biology Letter @royalsocietypublishing.org on spatial learning and lateralisation in lizards 🦎! Check out the full OA paper here:
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
#AnimalCognition #ThinkLikeALizard
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
#AnimalCognition #ThinkLikeALizard
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
In part 2 we apply this framework across three tasks, and test the performance of herring and lesser black-backed gulls in the detour task, the thwarting task (often used with fish) and the stop-change task (developed from the human cognition literature) 🐦
Part 2: rdcu.be/e2pyI
5/6
Part 2: rdcu.be/e2pyI
5/6
Unpacking response Inhibition in animals – part 2: an empirical test
rdcu.be
February 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
In part 2 we apply this framework across three tasks, and test the performance of herring and lesser black-backed gulls in the detour task, the thwarting task (often used with fish) and the stop-change task (developed from the human cognition literature) 🐦
Part 2: rdcu.be/e2pyI
5/6
Part 2: rdcu.be/e2pyI
5/6
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
We explain how this framework applies to the main tasks used to measure response inhibition in the field of animal cognition
Part 1: rdcu.be/e2pyN
4/6
Part 1: rdcu.be/e2pyN
4/6
Unpacking response inhibition in animals – part 1: a conceptual framework
rdcu.be
February 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
We explain how this framework applies to the main tasks used to measure response inhibition in the field of animal cognition
Part 1: rdcu.be/e2pyN
4/6
Part 1: rdcu.be/e2pyN
4/6
Reposted by Katy Willcox, PhD
🚨Not one, but two papers now out on response inhibition (also called motoric self-regulation or inhibitory control in the field of animal cognition). Many studies find no link between individual performance on different tasks supposedly measuring response inhibition.
1/6
1/6
February 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
🚨Not one, but two papers now out on response inhibition (also called motoric self-regulation or inhibitory control in the field of animal cognition). Many studies find no link between individual performance on different tasks supposedly measuring response inhibition.
1/6
1/6