All articles tagged with #avian intelligence
Recent studies reveal that bird and mammal intelligence evolved independently through different neural pathways, challenging traditional views and highlighting convergent evolution, which could inspire new AI development approaches.
Researchers have discovered that striated caracaras, a rare bird of prey from the Falkland Islands, exhibit remarkable problem-solving skills and long-term memory. These birds quickly learned to solve puzzle boxes for food and retained these skills a year later, demonstrating intelligence comparable to that of crows and parrots. The study highlights the caracaras' adaptability and intelligence, suggesting that such cognitive abilities are more widespread among birds than previously acknowledged.
A new study on Australian magpies reveals that their intelligence is influenced more by their social environment than genetic inheritance. Researchers found that magpies raised in larger social groups demonstrated faster problem-solving abilities, while the cognitive performance of young magpies showed little connection to their mothers' abilities. The mental demands of recognizing and remembering group members within a complex social environment likely contribute to the birds' cognitive development, challenging the notion that intelligence is solely determined by genetic inheritance.