When a greylag goose retrieves an egg from outside the nest, she extends her neck, places the underside of her bill against the egg's far surface, and bends her neck to bring the egg into the nest with a chin-tucking movement. If the egg veers, she adjusts the position of her bill by moving it from side-to-side to correct the direction of the roll. The side-to-side movements of the head which correct the direction of the roll are called a
A) fixed action pattern.
B) reflex arc.
C) sign stimulus.
D) taxis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Taxis is a movement toward or away from a stimulus. In this case, the goose adjusts its movements to correct the direction of the egg, which is a directed response to a stimulus.

When a Greylag Goose Retrieves an Egg from Outside the Nest