Crows and ravens solve puzzles and are often described as highly intelligent birds.

The longer version

Corvids have a large forebrain for their body size, with many small densely packed neurons, which supports flexible problem solving rather than fixed instinct. They learn by watching others, remember individual faces for years, and work out multi-step problems such as pulling a string for food or bending a wire into a hook.

Ravens also plan ahead, hiding food while keeping track of who is watching and re-hiding it if a rival saw. They use tools, play, and hold grudges against particular individuals. The intelligence is convergent with monkeys and parrots rather than inherited from a shared ancestor, which is why corvids are studied alongside them.

Where this entry sits

Here you will find feathered trivia about flight, migration, nests, eggs, and the songs birds sing. Expect short surprising facts on penguins, owls, hummingbirds, and other familiar birds from gardens, forests, wetlands, and distant coastlines. The full list sits on the Birds page, where every entry is listed in order.