Color Preferences in Quail Chicks: Generalization of the Effects of Genetic Selection

Japanese quail (C. coturnix japonica) were artificially selected for early preferences of blue over red and red over blue. Subjects were drawn from the 2nd and 8th generations of the selected lines and were tested for color choices by five different color pairs, in addition to the blue-red pair used for selection. Eight generations of selection for choices between blue and red modified choice responses to all color combinations. Maximum preferences were not shown in the selected choices between blue and red, but in the choice of green over red in the subjects from the line selected for preference of blue and in the choice of yellow over blue in the subjects from the line selected for preference of red.