Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology

We study behavioral and cognitive traits from the multiple perspectives of mechanism, function, development and evolutionary history. Our research centers around questions about cognitive and communicative processes, the endocrine and genetic control of behavior, and the influence of ecological and environmental factors on behavioral phenotypes. We work on a variety of vertebrate species and we conduct studies under controlled lab- and ecologically valid field conditions.

Research Areas

Behavioral endocrinology and genetics

Individual differences: behavioral plasticity and consistency

Behavioral adaptations: from hibernation and migration to species conservation

Behavioral interactions: between individuals and species

Social cognition and culture

Communication – Humans and other Animals

Bio-aesthetics and sexual selection

News & Events

17.04.2024

Floreana Finches "Flight Home": Q&A WITH PROF. SONIA KLEINDORFER

A University of Vienna research team led by Sonia Kleindorfer helps Darwin's finches fly home after seven months in captivity. The finches were kept...

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08.03.2024

New Nature paper out!

Evolutionary novelties underlie sound production in baleen whales

by Coen P. H. Elemans, Weili Jiang, Mikkel H. Jensen, Helena Pichler, Bo R....

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08.03.2024

New preprint on language aptitude out!

A Behavioural Exploration of Language Aptitude and Experience, Cognition and More Using Graph Analysis

by Alessandra Rampinini, Irene Balboni, Narly...

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