Crows are perhaps some of the most ubiquitous bird species in the world, with more than 37 species within the corvid family. The intelligence of crows is something that has long piqued the curiosity of researchers and admirers alike. Birdwatching enthusiasts have often noted the seemingly contrived manner in which crows carry out tasks, prompting ornithologists to engage captive crows in series of tests to prove the anecdotal evidence.
What they discovered amazed them: Crows are capable of critical thinking and problem solving. Various experiments have shown that crows are able to recognize human faces, communicate details about faces they remember to other crows, use tools to solve problems, and adapt to their environment to use it to their advantage.
A study published in 2004 in the journal Science concluded that the intelligence of crows is comparable to that of chimpanzees. Crows, like dolphins, apes, and humans have large brains relative to their body size. They are also social creatures, requiring a more complex level of thought than is needed by solitary animals.
Crows have been known to befriend humans, although there is no scientific consensus on whether it is an emotional bond or merely a symbiotic relationship. Tales of crows bringing shiny bits of metal and detritus to their human companions are common the world over, and some people even take crows as pets after rescuing them from injury or harm.
Take a look at this fascinating BBC Earth segment on a problem solving experiment to test the intelligence of crows — you may never look at them with the same passive eye again!
Featured Image from Alex/Unsplash
