Posted on 04/14/2025 3:03:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Crows have a skill once thought to be uniquely human: recognizing geometrical shapes and spotting pattern differences.
A new study by researchers at the University of Tübingen reveals that carrion crows can identify geometric regularities without prior training. These findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
Researchers test shape recognition in crows
Led by Philipp Schmidbauer, Madita Hahn, and Andreas Nieder, the team tested whether crows could detect when one shape stood out.
This skill, known as recognizing geometric regularity, is being able to identify when something doesn’t follow a visual pattern—like spotting a plastic star among plastic moons.
Grecian Delight supports Greece
Scientists tested this ability in primates such as chimpanzees and bonobos in the past. Until now, no other creature besides humans has been known to possess this ability
Digital experiments used for simple pattern tests
Given how rare this skill is, the researchers cautiously approached this study. They designed a series of digital tests using computer screens.
The crows were shown sets of shapes and asked to peck the ones that looked different. A correct choice earned them a food reward.
The team picked carrion crows because earlier research indicates they are extremely intelligent. These birds have already demonstrated skills in problem-solving, memory, and even basic counting.
Crows succeed at both simple and subtle differences
The results were clear from the start. Each bird quickly learned to select the shape that didn’t match. For example, they could easily pick out a star placed among rectangles.
The researchers introduced more subtle differences to explore the limits of their perception. In one test, a single box tilted slightly among identical upright boxes. Even then, the crows picked out the odd shape more often than chance would allow.
Though accuracy dropped with difficult tasks, their performance stayed well above random guessing.
Advanced visual understanding shown by birds
Further testing revealed even more impressive results. The birds could recognize visual elements such as right angles, parallel lines, and symmetrical shapes. These are essential features of geometry that humans typically learn in early education.
Most strikingly, the crows completed these tasks without any prior training to understand shapes. This suggests that their ability to detect regularity might be instinctive rather than learned.
Study suggests intelligence in animals may be underestimated
According to the researchers, the findings offer strong evidence that this type of visual reasoning is not limited to humans. It may exist naturally in other intelligent species as well.
The study adds to a growing body of work showing that bird intelligence—particularly in species like crows and ravens—is more advanced than once believed.
I’ve never discussed math with them but they beat me regularly at chess.
Why would they need to?
Most critters have more than enough intelligence for the needs of their own lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGaUM_OngaY
https://www.thoughtco.com/crows-are-more-intelligent-than-you-think-4156896
Well some are good at Counting
I see what you did there.
Video
Smart Crow is a Great Problem Solver
https://rumble.com/v4uhfxo-smart-crow-is-a-great-problem-solver.html
Video
An example of how smart crows really are
https://rumble.com/v5vc9cq-smart-crow-an-example-of-how-smart-crows-really-are.html
What do we do with this knowledge?
well after millions of years recognizing the radius of their nests, and over the past 100s of years recognizing the shapes of the neighborhood bird feeders, I would think so...
And there was a study for this?? Good Job Guys!!!
Video
Crow steals glasses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mo_uWb5ffA
How much did this a******* study cost??
Nothing to crow about!
So Moe was complimenting Curly when he called him a bird brain.
Why is this surprising? Flying animals have to recognize different,shapes. That’s why they can specifically land on branches, rocks, ground... Flash...they can also recognize textures, and colors...picking out food, insects,seeds,etc from scraps of paper, etc.
When it comes to chess, a pigeon will beat a crow every time. The pigeon doesn’t follow rules.
There was a study done that showed that crows remember someone who did them harm or attempted to. Years after the fact the crow will become agitated if they see them again and may even attack them.
Weirder, this reaction is passed onto their murder and they will react to the one time aggressor.
Getting way weirder, their offspring and THEIR offspring will react to the presence of the initial aggressor.
I’ve always wanted one; but for some reason, it’s illegal to keep a crow in the US - even though we used to blow up whole trees full of roosting crows, mistakenly thinking that they were ‘pests’.
Ferrets are illegal in California, but a lot of people have them, I don't think anyone cares.
Chickens can tell X from O at the carnival.
Ferrets won’t call 911 on you.
The reason they were outlawed is because they can be easily trained to steal money and other items. They are unbelievably smart.
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