Instinctive Behavior

An instinctive behavior is an action in an organism that is performed by all members of their species. They are typically a fixed action pattern (FAP) that occurs as a result of a specific stimulus. Instinctive behaviors are innate abilities - they occur and are present from birth onward and are not learned behaviors. Reflexes are an example of instinctive behaviors. For birds, nest building, migration, and imprinting (automatically following mothers) are all instinctive behaviors. Maternal instincts are also instinctive behaviors.