As smart as 6-year-olds: The surprising abilities discovered in crows

New studies reveal extraordinary cognitive abilities in crows, including complex problem-solving, statistical thinking, tool use, and strategic planning. Experts point to intelligence comparable to that of children aged 4 to 6, alongside rich social lives involving beak-pointing, reconciliation gestures, and displays of empathy.

New studies reveal extraordinary cognitive abilities in crows, reminiscent of those in children aged 4 to 6. Experts point to a rare combination of abstract thinking, creative problem-solving, basic statistical understanding, and even the ability to recognize human faces and remember them for years. Prof. Pierre-Yves Daoust from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island describes them as "the most intelligent birds we know." One of the most notable features is their large brain relative to their body size, enabling complex planning and decision-making. Researchers have found that crows can delay gratification, weigh data, and choose the most rewarding course of action. A well-known example was observed in Japan, where urban crows drop nuts into crosswalks so cars will crack the shells for them—and wait for the red light to safely collect the food. Alongside practical intelligence, crows maintain a sophisticated social fabric based on a rich language of calls and body gestures. They have been observed using their beaks to point out objects to other crows—behavior analogous to pointing with a finger in humans. Their social memory allows them to recognize flock members even after long separation, and in times of crisis they display comforting and reconciling behaviors. However, these abilities have a limit: the case of the Hawaiian crow, a brilliant species that knew how to use tools but went extinct in the wild due to human impact on its environment, illustrates that even extraordinary intelligence is not entirely immune to extreme environmental changes.