Be an Animal Researcher!

Create your own ethogram to observe animal behavior

What is an ethogram?

An ethogram is a list of common behaviors performed by an animal. It is a valuable first step in a research project, helping scientists understand how often an animal does different behaviors.

Try it out!

• Choose an animal to observe next time you visit the Zoo (or alternatively, one you often see in your backyard or local park).
• Learn more about the animal and create a list of behaviors you think you might see it perform.
• Download and print the ethogram template (via QR code or link below).
• Fill it out with your animal’s information.

Collect your data

Pick an individual animal to observe. Using a stopwatch, mark which behavior the animal is doing every 1 minute for 5-10 minutes.

Interpret your results

• What behaviors did you see the most?
• The least?
• Did you notice any patterns?
• Do you have new questions as a result of your observations?

Click here to download an ethogram template.