Signalled and unsignalled free-operant avoidance in the pigeon.

Researchers worked with four pigeons in small chambers. Each bird could peck a key to avoid mild electric shocks.

Two setups were tested. In one, a tone sounded before shocks could happen. In the other, no tone warned the bird.

With the warning tone, pigeons quickly learned to peck and turn the tone off. Without the tone, birds used different tricks.

Some birds timed their pecks like a clock. Others pecked wildly right after a shock, then waited.

Zeiler (1968) showed rats can avoid shock by holding and releasing a bar during a single light. The rats needed one clear signal. The pigeons in Edwards et al. (1970) proved birds can also master avoidance, but they do it with or without that signal.

Rapport et al. (1982) later found pigeons can tell if their own last move was a peck or a pause. Together these papers show pigeons use both outside cues and their own past acts to guide future behavior.

BAER (1960) got preschool kids to avoid losing toys by brief reinforcement withdrawal. Kids, rats, and pigeons all avoid bad events, but the cue they use—and the response form—changes with species and setup.

When you teach safety or escape skills, decide if a clear warning signal is possible. If you can give a signal, use it; behavior will lock on fast. If no signal exists, build timing or self-monitoring skills instead. The pigeon data say learners will find their own cue—help them pick a useful one.