Behaviour

Aims & Scope

Behaviour is interested in all aspects of animal (including human) behaviour, from ecology and physiology to learning, cognition, and neuroscience.

Evolutionary approaches, which concern themselves with the advantages of behaviour or capacities for the organism and its reproduction, receive much attention both at a theoretical level and as it relates to specific behaviour.

The journal Behaviour has its roots in ethology and behavioural biology (see historical note), in which the emphasis is not so much on how animals compare with humans under strictly controlled conditions (as in comparative psychology), but more on tracing the phylogeny and evolution of natural behaviour as shown under naturalistic or natural conditions.

Specialized cognition and communication are part of this approach.

Well-controlled laboratory experiments are needed and welcome, but by no means the only approach.

Behaviour has a long tradition of publishing systematic observations of spontaneous behaviour.

Behaviour covers the whole animal kingdom, from invertebrates to fish, and from frogs to primates.

The study of animal behaviour remains vibrant and keeps attracting young, talented scientists, who will find Behaviour a journal with a quick turn-around time (we strive for first reviews within a month) read by a wide range of students and researchers of animal behaviour.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1
2024	1.20

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.412

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	13501

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	214

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Neuroscience, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Observational Study of Behavior: Sampling Methods

  Citation: 9756

  Authors: Jeanne

• The Social Organisation of Antelope in Relation To Their Ecology

  Citation: 1479

  Authors: P.J.

• An Ecological Model of Female-Bonded Primate Groups

  Citation: 1371

  Authors: Richard W.

• A Comparison of the Social Postures of Some Common Laboratory Rodents

  Citation: 800

  Authors: E.C., J.H.

• Analysis of Sniffing of the Albino Rat 1)

  Citation: 706

  Authors: W.I.

• Why Are Diurnal Primates Living in Groups?

  Citation: 673

  Authors: C.P.

• Natural selection and animal personality

  Citation: 665

  Authors: Niels J., Denis

• The Roaring of Red Deer and the Evolution of Honest Advertisement

  Citation: 657

  Authors: T.H., S.D.

• The Concept and Definition of Dominance in Animal Behaviour

  Citation: 576

  Authors: Carlos

• Aggressiveness, Territoriality, and Sexual Behavior in Field Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

  Citation: 518

  Authors: Richard D.

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