What Makes Crows Different from Other Birds?

Relative to their body size, crows have a significantly greater brain mass and number of neurons than many other birds. In certain aspects, their brain functions resemble those of highly developed mammals. While many birds use tools only in their natural form, crows can shape wooden sticks and create useful tools from small objects to obtain food.

Crows also have an impressive ability to remember human faces. They can recognize someone who has harmed them even after many years and distinguish that person from others. Moreover, they can warn other crows about such a “dangerous person.”

In some problem-solving tasks, the thinking and information-processing abilities of crows have been compared to those of a seven-year-old child. These birds can understand certain physical principles, such as raising the water level by dropping stones into it, and take the weight of objects into account. They can drop stones into a container of water to raise the water level and reach food floating on the surface. Some researchers have also suggested that crows may be capable of recognizing their own reflections in mirrors.