Crows are even smarter than we thought (nautil.us)

Article summary

Researchers have found that hooded crows are able to memorize the shape and size of an object after it is taken away and reproduce one like it, a feat that requires the ability to form mental templates. This ability was previously thought to be unique to humans. The study suggests that the ability to learn this way could be more widespread than thought, potentially shared among the corvid family or even more broadly across the animal kingdom. The findings have implications for understanding the nature of bird intelligence and intelligence across the animal kingdom.

Main themes

• Animal Intelligence
• Corvid Cognition
• Mental Templates
• Tool Making
• Evolutionary Biology
• Comparative Psychology

What commenters say

• The discovery of advanced cognitive abilities in crows is not surprising, as humans have consistently underestimated the intelligence of non-human animals.
• The ability to form mental templates is a unique aspect of human intelligence, and its presence in crows challenges our understanding of the evolution of intelligence.
• The intelligence of crows and other animals is not necessarily comparable to human intelligence, and we should be cautious in drawing conclusions about their cognitive abilities.
• The study's findings have implications for our understanding of the evolution of intelligence, and suggest that the ability to form mental templates may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought.
• The idea that humans are uniquely intelligent is arrogant and overlooks the complex cognitive abilities of other species.
• The ability of crows to form mental templates is likely linked to their ability to use tools and solve problems, and is an example of convergent evolution.
• The study's findings are exciting and challenging, but also raise questions about the limitations and flexibility of mental templates in non-human animals.
• The intelligence of crows and other animals is not just about problem-solving, but also about social behavior, communication, and adaptability.