The Genius of Corvids: Why Crows, Jays, and Ravens Outsmart Expectations

As we move further into fall and winter, you may be noticing more Corvids in your neighborhood, and in greater numbers. For me, this is the time of year where the sledding hill at my local high school plays host to large flocks of American Crows.

Crows and ravens, along with the rooks of Europe, make up almost half of the over 120 species in the family Corvidae. Other members in the United States, which is home to 16 species, include jays, magpies, and nutcrackers. Corvids are found on every continent except Antarctica.

What makes a Corvid a Corvid? Corvids are medium to large-sized, generally social birds, with strong legs and feet, and omnivorous diets. Many are either black or blue, and most are highly adaptable, flourishing alongside humans. The Blue Jay, for example, historically a bird of Eastern forests, has expanded westward since the late 1970’s, likely due to human actions like planting trees and putting up bird feeders.

The primary characteristic of Corvids, though, is their intelligence. Despite the small size of their brains, their neurons are closely packed together, making communication between them more efficient. The result is that some Corvids may be as intelligent as a gorilla. In this case, “bird-brain” isn’t an insult, it’s a compliment!

Corvids have amazing memories. A study by John Marzluff at the University of Washington illustrated that American Crows can tell the difference between human faces and communicate threats. During the study, researchers wore caveman masks to trap the birds. Nine years later, crows up to a half mile from the original site recognized the masks and mobbed only those wearing them.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, American Crows have been known to bestow “gifts” on those who are kind to them. Unfortunately, none of the crows I routinely put out peanuts for at our old store location ever brought me a winning lottery ticket.

The Clark’s Nutcracker, a resident of Colorado’s high country, will gather thousands of pine seeds in a season for caching, each one carried in a pouch under their tongue. When relocating the seeds, they’re able to find them with 70% accuracy.

Corvids are also able to pass the mirror test. In a 2008 experiment, scientists stuck colored dots on Eurasian Magpies and then placed the birds before a mirror. The birds were able to recognize their reflection and attempted to pick the stickers off. Prior to this, only a handful of mammals, including chimpanzees and dolphins, had demonstrated self-awareness.

Perhaps most famously, Corvids are some of the few animals to use tools. This illustrates the ability to plan and an understanding of cause and effect. To reach food, the New Caledonian Crow can assemble compound tools, and captive Rooks have learned to drop stones in water to raise the water level.

For thousands of years, people have been enthralled by Corvids, and it’s easy to understand why given their ubiquity and cleverness. So this Thanksgiving, give a toast to your favorite Corvid, and keep the peanuts coming.

Jamie Simo is a naturalist, graduate of the Denver Audubon Master Birder program, and manager of the Boulder branch of Front Range Birding & Optics.

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