A new study reveals that crows can count up to four and match their calls to numerals. This surprising discovery shows that crows are smarter than previously thought.
Crows’ Counting Skills
Crows, common urban birds, can vocally count up to four, according to researchers from the University of Tübingen’s animal physiology lab in Germany. The study found that crows can recognize numbers and make corresponding calls, similar to how humans learn to count.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers trained three carrion crows over more than 160 sessions. The crows were shown visual and auditory cues from 1 to 4 and were taught to make the same number of caws. For example, if they saw the numeral 3, they had to caw three times within 10 seconds. When the crows completed the task correctly, they received a treat.
The crows took longer to react as the number of calls increased, suggesting they planned the number of caws before making them. The researchers could even predict how many calls the crows would make based on the sound of their first caw.
Crows and Human-like Errors
Interestingly, the crows made similar mistakes to humans, such as cawing one too many times or stuttering. These errors provided further evidence that the crows were planning their responses.
Crows and Other Intelligent Animals
Counting is not unique to crows in the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees can count in numerical order, and some male frogs count calls from rivals to outdo them. Ants might count their steps to find their way back to their colonies.
Implications of the Study
This study challenges the old belief that animals only react to their environment without planning ahead. It suggests that crows can think ahead and communicate in a structured way. This ability is a precursor to having a language.
Crows’ Intelligence
Crows’ intelligence has been studied for years. They can create tools and follow rules. This study is another step in understanding their complex abilities.
This study shows that crows are more intelligent than many people realize. Their ability to count and plan their responses adds to the growing evidence of their cognitive skills.
