Black Feathers, Bright Minds

Largest members of the genus, are among the most adaptable birds on Earth. They inhabit deserts, mountains, forests, and coastlines, and their intelligence helps them thrive in vastly different conditions.

- HRITHIK KIRAN BAGADE

Crows, too—like the American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)—are resourceful omnivores that feed on everything from insects to garbage. This flexible diet and ability to solve problems are key indicators of advanced cognitive development.

India's smartest urban bird The Common Indian Crow, or House Crow (Corvus splendens), is a familiar sight across South Asia. Often seen near markets, homes, and garbage dumps, it plays a surprisingly important ecological role by helping clean up waste.

But the House Crow is more than a scavenger—it's a sharp thinker. These birds can recognise individual human faces, use tools, mimic sounds, and coordinate with other crows to find food. They quickly learn human routines, such as the timing of garbage collection, and adapt to exploit new food sources. Their calls are varied and complex, serving as a form of social communication. Their intelligence makes them one of the smartest urban birds anywhere.

The intelligence of crows and ravens is a hot topic in fields like animal behaviour and comparative cognition. Many researchers now believe these birds exhibit abilities once thought to be uniquely human—or at least limited to great apes and dolphins.