Short Wave Crows: Are They Scary Or Just Super Smart?
Oct 26, 2020
Kaeli Swift, a lecturer at the University of Washington, dives into the fascinating world of crows. She explains their remarkable cognitive abilities and how they can recognize human faces, showcasing their intelligence. The discussion uncovers their social behaviors, including unique funerals that reveal their understanding of death. Kaeli shares stories about how crows communicate threats and learn to associate locations with danger, all while highlighting their tool-making skills. Get ready to rethink these misunderstood birds!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mask Experiment
- Researchers used masks to test crows' facial recognition, capturing and banding them.
- Crows exhibited alarm calls and dive-bombed anyone wearing the mask, even years later.
Crow Facial Recognition
- Crows possess remarkable facial recognition abilities, remembering individuals for years.
- This recognition extends to both those who have harmed and helped them.
Social Learning
- Crows share learned information, including threats, within their community.
- This social learning allows even unbanded crows to recognize and react to dangerous individuals.