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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.