Imprinting occurs within a narrow time window after birth or hatching; for example, geese learn who their mother is within

• A. 13-16 hours after hatching.
• B. 1-2 days after hatching.
• C. Several weeks after birth.
• D. Immediately at birth.

Answer: (A)

Imprinting is a rapid, early learning process that happens during a short, sensitive period after birth or hatching. In geese, the young must be exposed to their caregiver within a tight window to form a lasting attachment and follow the first moving object they see. This critical period is roughly 13 to 16 hours after hatching; exposure within that window leads to normal imprinting on the mother, guiding future behavior. If the exposure occurs outside this window, imprinting is much less likely to occur effectively, which is why timelines like 1–2 days or several weeks after birth don’t fit the actual timing. Immediate exposure at birth is often too early for the neural and perceptual systems to engage in imprinting, so the best-fitting timeframe is the 13–16 hour window.