Protocol for inducing hippocampal formation lesions and associated behavioral testing in Japanese quail

Here, we present a protocol for inducing selective lesions in the hippocampal formation of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), coupled with associated behavioral testing. We first describe the surgical procedure for aspiration lesions in Japanese quail. We then detail two well-known hippocampus-dependent behavioral tests adapted to birds—foraging array (FA) and spontaneous object recognition (SOR). This protocol is adapted from those used in mammals and can be used to study the involvement of Japanese quail memory centers in declarative memory. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Damphousse et al. (2022).