In Bird Brains: The Intelligence of Crows, Ravens, Magpies and Jays, Candace Savage shows us that the much-maligned bird is far more intelligent than we humans give them credit for. Bird Brains focuses on Corvidae or corvids, a flock of birds covering some 113 species of crow-like birds.
“To some people, these birds are as unappealing as cockroaches and as undeserving of sympathy,” writes Savage. Human persecution, or corvophobia, has been a constant threat to the well-being of ravens and crows around the world. Yet these often despised creatures are capable of extremely complex intelligent behavior. Corvids have intricate nest building, complex family structures, life-long commitments to mates, sophisticated memory systems and often have bereavement and ceremonial gatherings at the death of a loved one. This is in addition to their documented ability to count and use tools.
So with all this apparent intelligence why the derogatory label? Bird intelligence has been too often based on their small and poorly developed cerebral cortex (the organ of higher thought in humans and animals). Birds, instead of relying on their cortex, have developed another part of their forebrain, the hyperstriatum (which mammals lack) as their chief organ of intelligence, explains Savage. In fact, the bigger the hyperstriatum, the better birds score on intelligence tests. Birds’ body-to-brain ratio is considered to be equal to that of a dolphin.
Never again will you think a bird stupid after reading Bird Brains — a gentle rallying cry for the humble bird.
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Visit: http://www.sierraclub.org/
Publisher: Sierra Club Books
134 Pages
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