Crows are often seen as ordinary black birds, but they are actually some of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Scientists have discovered that their problem solving skills can rival those of a young child in certain tasks.
One of the most surprising things about crows is their ability to use tools. In experiments, crows have been seen bending sticks into hooks to pull food out of hard-to-reach places. Even more impressive, they don’t just use tools they find they can actually modify objects to make them more useful.
Crows also have strong memories, especially when it comes to human faces. If a person threatens or harms a crow, it can remember that face for years and warn other crows about them. On the other hand, if a human is kind, crows may recognize and trust them over time.
They also seem to understand cause and effect. In some tests, crows dropped stones into water to raise the level so they could reach food floating on top. This kind of thinking shows planning, not just instinct.
Even more surprising, crows sometimes hold “funerals” for other dead crows. Groups will gather quietly around a dead crow, possibly to learn about danger or understand what happened. Scientists are still debating exactly why they do this, but it shows complex social behavior.
So while crows might just look like common birds sitting on power lines, they are actually highly intelligent creatures living complex lives right above us.
