Intelligent Crows

If men had wings and bore black feathers
few of them would be clever enough to be crows.
     - Henry Ward Beecher

How do we determine the intelligence of a creature? Do we compare them to ourselves? Do we compare them to other beings? Interesting questions!

The use of tools is one measure of intelligence that scientists use. Early man used primitive tools to accomplish tasks as do several intelligent animals, including the crow. "The crow?!" you exclaim. Yes, the crow been found to use as well as adapt tools to help them.

Yet these very intelligent birds are many times scorned, hated or ignored by birders. They are accused of robbing nests of young songbirds, scaring away other birds, monopolizing backyard birdfeeders, being too loud with their "caws."

Throughout history and around the world, the crow has been woven through mythology, religions, and superstitions. And recently this summer, crows were given another black mark by society as being the carriers of the West Nile Virus, a deadly disease on the east coast of the U.S. in the summer of 1999.

However, let's take another look at the crow:

Their feathers are actually glossy and varying shades of purple and black.

They form strong family units, assisting each other, even during nesting.

While foraging for food, one crow may stand guard as a lookout, while others feed.

The crow is extremely adaptable, learning to live a variety of habitats, even with mankind.