Crows, ravens, rooks, and jays—members of the corvid bird family—are actually some of the smartest animals on our planet. These birds can solve complexabstractintricatesimple problems that even some primatesmammalsexpertsapes struggle with. They are considered to be as intelligentclevertraineddull as dolphins and chimpanzees. Today, I'd like to share with you why these feathered geniusesprodigiescreaturesfools deserve our attention and respect.

First, corvids have impressiveunremarkableremarkableinstructive tool-making abilities. Crows craft special hooks from twigs to pull insects out of tree holes. They don't just use what they find—they actually shape these tools for specific tasksidlenesshuntsjobs . Scientists have observedcapturedignoredwatched these birds carefully selecting branchessticksflowertrunks , removing unwanted parts, and even bendingshapingslightingstraightening them into hookshooks . This kind of tool creation was once thought to be uniquecommondistinctiveobtuse to humans and a few apes, but these birds prove otherwise.

Next, these birds have amazing memoriesrecollectionsadaptationsforgetfulness . Ravens can remember people who have treated them badly, dive bombingforgettingretreatingswooping at them every time they pass by. Crows form lasting bondsconnectionsseparationsbehaviors with kind humans who feed them, often bringing small gifts like shinydullgleamingstrange objects as tokensnonrepresentationssymbolsevidence of gratitude. Corvids can also remember where they have hidden literallysafelyfigurativelyactually thousands of seeds and nuts, returning to these secretdistantobvioushidden spots months later when food is scarcelimitedabundantplentiful .

Corvids are exceptional problem solversproblem creatorsstrategiststroubleshooters , using their intelligence to overcomeconquersuccumb toidentify challenges in creative ways. Ravens have shown their understanding of cause and effectrandomnesscausalitypatterns by pulling up food that was danglingsteadyhangingtangled on a string, using their feet and beak. They also use deceptionwoodhonestytrickery to protect their food cachesexposuresstoresbaskets ; if other birds are watching, they pretenddugrevealfeign to hide food in one spot but secretlycovertlycarefullyopenly place it elsewhere. These behaviors demonstratereinforceconcealshow their ability to think aheadplanimprovisespontaneous and adaptadjustresistrun to situations.

The intelligencecomplexityintellectstupidity of corvids reminds us that brainpowercognitionignoranceevolution comes in many forms and sizes. These birds, with their tiny brains, challenge our understanding of animal intelligence. Next time you see a crow or raven, take a moment to appreciate the complex mind behind those watchful little eyes. These birds aren't just flying around mindlesslydeliberatelythoughtlesslyinstinctively —they're observingflounderingignoringwatching , assessingevaluatingneglectingconfiding , and learning. But be on your best behaviormisbehaviorconductguardrail ; they're watching you, and remembering who you are.