A few columns ago I described how remarkable starlings are with their synchronized flights. It has come to my attention that there is another bird species that is even more remarkable. The species I’m going to write about in this column definitely has something to crow about.

Crows have one of the sharpest minds in the animal kingdom. They are super intelligent. They exhibit signs of cognizant skills not often associated with birds. This column will provide my readers some surprising insights into the “ AI” of crows. But there is nothing artificial about their intelligence; their intelligence is amazing!

When it comes to survival, crows have the ability to fashion implements to make their life easier. They can’t go to the hardware store, so they use what’s around them to fashion tools. That’s right, they make their own tools unlike most birds. Crows don’t rely just on instinct to get food. They can critically assess the situation and solve the problem. Research has shown that crows can bend wires into hooks to retrieve food. 

There’s a group of wild crows called New Caledonian crows that have been observed using twigs, leaves and other materials to make tools to extract insects from those crevices of the trees. Some even go so far as to trim and shape the sticks to improve the functionality. It shows a level of foresight rarely seen in animals outside of humans and primates. 

Here is one thing they’re capable of that’s going to surprise you. They can remember human faces and distinguish between friendly and threatening people. Studies reveal that crows could recognize and recall threatening individuals for years. In one experiment researchers wore masks when trapping crows for study. Later when the same acts were done again the crows loudly mobbed and scolded the individuals wearing them. It proved they remembered past negative encounters. They even were able to pass this information on to the neighboring crows teaching them to avoid or antagonize people who had posed a threat earlier in their lives.

When crows learn something, they don’t keep it to themselves. They share it with their group. This is called social learning. Crows can teach each other the skills and knowledge if one of them finds a clever way to retrieve food, others observe and notice it and follow the same method.

Crows have sophisticated communication skills that help them convey messages to their groups. They use a variety of calls and body language to alert others about dangers or food sources or even social conflicts.  When the crow enters a dangerous location, it will begin to warn its group using specific localizations. The message spreads rapidly and even those that have never experienced the danger will avoid that area based on the warning of their fellow birds.

Crows have been observed taking breaks from their chores to engage in some fun and games. They were filmed sliding down snow-covered roofs and hills. They even engage in playing tricks on other species. Crows have the ability to mimic the calls of other bird species. I have a few bird feeders on my deck. Last summer I often heard a crow mimic the call of a female cardinal. As the male cardinal approached, the crow flew off only to do it again as soon as the confused male cardinal left.

Crows have shown an impressive problem solving ability.  In the puzzle box challenge crows successfully completed multi-step puzzles to retrieve food rewards. That process requires them to use the objects in a particular sequence showing the ability to think ahead. They plan for multiple moves like they were playing chess. They also seem to have the ability to understand cause and effect. In one experiment crows were seen dropping nuts onto roads so that cars driving over them will crack  open the shell. Once the traffic clears, they swoop down to collect their meal.

Researchers are amazed that the crows seem to also have an apparent emotional intelligence. When one of their group dies others gather around the deceased bird in a funeral-like ceremony. Scientists believe the behavior has two purposes expressing grief and gathering information by observing the fallen crow. They might be trying to determine what led to its death allowing them to avoid a similar fate in the future.

An old adage says “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Similarly, don’t judge a crow by its feathers. For a crow, they are one avian species that are fortunate to have a “bird brain.”

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.