When foraging in groups, individuals can use the "producer" tactic to locat
e food patches and the "scrounger" tactic to exploit the food discoveries o
f companions. Most producer-scrounger models assume that birds are flexible
in using tactics in response to changing conditions and that foragers are
phenotypically identical. Individual differences and flexibility in tactic
use were investigated in zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata) foraging in two
flocks of different composition. Birds varied widely in their use of tacti
cs, and individual differences proved consistent both within and between fl
ocks. Significant adjustments in tactic use occurred from one flock to the
other. Results suggest that tactic use in zebra finches foraging in small f
locks is characterized by consistency and flexibility. Individual differenc
es in tactic use demonstrate the need to examine further the consequences o
f phenotypic variation in producer-scrounger models.