In an earlier study (Chen et al., 2019, Science, 363(6423), 166–167), we showed that budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, females increase their preference for males that were observed solving two extractive foraging problems. Camacho-Alpizar et al. (2020, Animal Behaviour, 165, e1–e3) question whether this outcome shows that females evaluate the cognitive skills of males. Their main argument is that individual differences in problem solving are often due to differences in noncognitive abilities. Here we outline the differences between the use of problem-solving tasks as it is mostly done and how we used it in our study. We argue that our design maximizes the chance that observed differences in male problem solving indicate differences in learning abilities to an observing female. We agree with Camacho-Alpizar et al. that the topic of the evolution of cognitive abilities through sexual selection deserves further study and hope our study (Chen et al., 2019), Camacho-Alpizar et al.’s comment and this reply will stimulate further research.

中文翻译：

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关于通过配偶选择解决问题和认知能力的演变：对 Camacho-Alpízar 等人的回复。(2020)

在早期的一项研究中（Chen 等人，2019，Science，363(6423)，166-167），我们发现虎皮鹦鹉、Melopsittacus undulatus 雌性增加了它们对雄性的偏好，这些雄性被观察到解决了两个提取性觅食问题。Camacho-Alpizar 等。(2020, Animal Behaviour, 165, e1–e3) 质疑这一结果是否表明女性评估男性的认知技能。他们的主要论点是解决问题的个体差异往往是由于非认知能力的差异。在这里，我们概述了解决问题任务的使用（因为它主要完成）与我们在研究中如何使用它之间的差异。我们认为，我们的设计最大限度地提高了观察到的男性解决问题的差异表明观察女性的学习能力差异的机会。我们同意 Camacho-Alpizar 等人的观点。