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THE REMARKABLE INTELLIGENCE OF CROWS

Crow's Brains

By its_me_raniaPublished 10 months ago 3 min read
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The Remarkable Intelligence of Crows

When it comes to intelligence, crows might not be the first creatures that come to mind. However, some crows possess brains that are proportionally larger than ours. Take the New Caledonian Crow, for instance, whose brain makes up nearly three percent of its total body weight. This proportion is similar to that found in dolphins and great apes. In comparison, an adult woman's brain weighs around two percent of her body weight. Research has also revealed that the forebrains of crows are densely packed with neurons, surpassing those of primates. This region of the brain is associated with intelligence and cognitive reasoning, making crows potential contenders as the smartest non-human beings on the planet, possibly even surpassing the cognitive abilities of seven-year-old humans.

Scientists conducted a series of tests to assess the crows' understanding of causal relationships. Inspired by Aesop's Fable of the Thirsty Crow, where a crow raises the water level in a pitcher by dropping rocks, the researchers presented the crows with tubes filled with water. The birds were given a choice of objects to drop into the tubes, demonstrating their ability to select solid over hollow objects and tubes with higher water levels for achieving their goals efficiently. Impressively, all of the crows successfully solved the puzzle, outperforming children aged four to six and even surpassing the speed of seven-year-olds.

Another experiment focused on the crows' analogical thinking capabilities. The intelligent birds were presented with a tray containing three cups. The middle cup displayed a card with a color, shape, or number, while the side cups had images on top of them, with one matching the middle cup and the other differing from it. The cup with a matching picture held a reward. The crows quickly grasped the concept and consistently chose the matching cards in subsequent rounds, exhibiting their ability to recognize analogies.

Crows have not only adapted to living among humans but have also found ways to exploit this relationship. Urban crows in America and Japan, for example, have learned to drop tough nuts onto busy streets, utilizing passing vehicles to crack them open. They patiently wait for traffic lights to turn green before retrieving their rewards from the ground. Furthermore, crows have demonstrated the ability to recognize human faces and remember individuals who pose a threat to them. Experiments involving researchers wearing masks showed that the crows reacted strongly to the caveman mask by warning their fellow crows, indicating their ability to communicate information about potential dangers.

Crows exhibit strong familial bonds and form long-lasting relationships. They typically find one partner for life and live in pairs or small family groups. During the nesting season, young crows assist their parents in defending the nest and even bring them food. Crows also form large groups to protect themselves from predators, engaging in coordinated efforts to drive away threats. They communicate through a diverse range of vocalizations, with each sound conveying specific messages to other crows. The nuances of their language vary from one group to another, similar to regional dialects.

In terms of self-control, crows have proven to possess more patience than many humans. In experiments where they were offered immediate rewards or the prospect of a better reward after a delay, the crows consistently opted to wait for a higher quality treat. Unlike other birds and animals tested, such as pigeons, chickens, and gray parrots, they demonstrated a remarkable ability to delay gratification and make decisions based on long-term benefits.

Crows are not only intelligent but also resourceful. When they have an excess of food, they stash it away in hidden caches for later consumption. They remember the locations of their caches and even employ markers or relocate.

science
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About the Creator

its_me_rania

I am a valuable contributor to Vocals.Media.With a deep passion for article writing, i brings a unique perspective to every content i create.I have a talent for crafting well-researched and thought-provoking articles.

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  • its_me_rania (Author)10 months ago

    These birds are really intelligent and smart than we can think as they have the largest brain to body ratio of any bird and have the ability to think a problem and work out an answer due to the high number of brain cells that it possess, hence process information more quick.

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