Maybe you’re thinking that there is nothing redeeming about crows and their brethren. A group of crows—collectively called a murder (!) of crows—can pick crops clean. Their presence chases away charming songbirds. They eat carrion. In stories they are often harbingers of evil.
I hope to give you a new way to think about crows. Let’s start with one of the coolest discoveries: crows make and use tools. Enter Betty.
Brainiacs
Betty is shown a plastic tube containing a treat. She is given a piece of wire, but she can’t quite get the food. Watch what she does. (:41)
That Betty realized she had to modify her tool to get the treat is remarkable. There are some primates who cannot figure this out. Lest you think that Betty is the Einstein of the crow world, researchers have observed this behavior in other crows time and again.
To be fair, not all species of crows show this ability. There are about 40 species of crows and ravens from a family of more than 120 corvids, which includes blue jays and magpies. “There’s a fair bit of disparity between crow species,” says Matt Brown, a PhD student in crow cognition (yes, crow cognition) at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.
Thus far, scientists have found the New Caledonian crow to be the most intelligent of its brethren. Some New Caledonian crows create tools from serrated palm fronds to dig out insects from crevasses of trees. A 2014 study published in Learning and Behavior showed them using a range different tools across different sites on the island.
New Caledonian crow stripping a pandanus leaf to make a tool.
Social Intelligence
The question scientists usually ask after making such a discovery is why? Why did some crow species develop this ability? One theory is that crows that live in complex social groups need to be able to reason and problem solve better than those crows that lead solitary lives. (BTW — Similar theories abound about the rise of human intelligence.)
Many crows are cooperative breeders, meaning they stay near the area they were born and help raise the next generation of offspring by bringing food and defending territory.
A side effect of this kind of intelligence is their ability to keep track of their relationships with with each other. Dr. John Marzluff, a wildlife biologist at the University of Washington, wondered if crows could use the same mental acuity to identify humans. He and his team trapped and banded crows (not harming them) while wearing a specific mask. When they returned to that location wearing the mask, the crows mobbed, scolded, and dive-bombed them. When not wearing the mask, the birds ignored them. And, get this: it wasn’t just the crows who had been trapped that mobbed them. Other non-banded crows started following suit. Apparently the crows who simply witnessed their cohorts being trapped responded in kind.
“Every so often Marzluff’s group retests the birds. It’s been 10 years, and not only have the crows not forgotten, the knowledge keeps spreading. When a crow sees other birds mobbing, it joins in, learning and remembering the identity of the villain.”
So the next time you shoo away a crow, remember: it’s making a mental note of the experience and may one day get its revenge.
Problem Solvers
What good is all that smarts if you can’t figure out how to solve the complexities that allow you to survive? Now for the pièce de résistance:
This New Caledonian crow, aptly named 007, solves an eight-stage puzzle he has never seen before to get to the food.
Bird Brain
How do crows manufacture and use tools, solve problems, understand words, recognize their own reflections and learn to predict human behaviors—despite having a brain the size of a walnut?
Crows and some parrots have nearly twice as many neurons in their brains than we do, when calculated by weight, according to new research published just last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
So the next time you use the term bird brain, think of it as a compliment!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Jackie, it’s wonderful how much you love animals! This one’s enlightening. Lorraine
I do! Thanks for stopping by, Lorraine. 🙂
Wow, so interesting! I love the expression “murder of crows.” I will never yell at a crow now. 🙂
Don’t do it. They’ll remember you! 😉
It’s hard not to be spooked by a presence of crows given their creepiness in movies and literature. However, your post sheds a much different light on the feathered friends. Very illuminating. Loved the video!
Side note: we have a lot of crows here. Big, giant and dark– drives my devil dog nuts for some reason. I’m not sure why. But it’s really funny because she runs around the yard barking at them whenever they fly around the house and yard. ! Barking at the sky and running in circles. Just the crows, not at the robins, blue Birds, bluejays, chickadees, Hawks, morning doves or hummingbirds.
Driving in the car? Yup goes absolutely nutty when she sees them sitting on the Telephone/electrical poles.
Cheers. Sorry for the long comment!
The crows are terrific problem solvers, and they often cooperate to learn things from each other. It feels like you can see them thinking about their next move.
That’s so interesting! Have the crows ever tried to mob her or squawk at her?
No. Shes just a nut. Cute and crazy
It’s one of my biggest dreams to have a crow. One that lives outside but will come to you. It’s actually possible. They are amazing birds. Lovely post.
I read about a woman who had set out food for the crows who frequented her backyard. Soon the crows began leaving little “presents” by her door. These were things they found around the area — a bottle cap, one earring, ribbons. She said she liked to think it was their way of saying “thank you” for the food. 🙂
I bet it was. They are so clever. 🙂
The intelligence of crows has always fascinated me. Did you see the recent article (I read it in The Guardian but I’m sure others covered it) about the crow that arrived at the murder scene and picked up the murder weapon? It sounds like a joke (or a Poe story) but the crow picked up the bloody knife and started to make off with it but then the cops were able to stop him. It gave me a chuckle!
I hadn’t heard that one! Training a crow as an accomplice would be a pretty nifty feat.
Great story. 🙂
Thanks for offering this new perspective on crows, Jackie. Quite enlightening – I love learning new tidbits of information about unexpected subjects. Thanks.
I’m so glad, Rudri. That’s my goal — to share interesting information about nature and animals to give people a different perspective on the world around them. Thanks for the affirmation! 🙂
Fascinating, Jackie. I love learning about your featured animals. I love crow’s critical thinking skills!!
They are clever, aren’t they? I found it very interesting that they pass along their knowledge to other crows in their social group.