irds
What is the smartest bird?
I might have guessed the parrot since it is an avian species that can reproduce human speech, as in “Polly wants a cracker.”
But most wildlife scientists pick birds in the Corvidae family as the smartest birds on earth. These birds remember faces, use tools and hold funerals for fallen members of a flock.
Corvid species are present throughout the U.S. and there are 17 varieties in North America, mostly jays, crows and ravens. In our area, blue jays are most common, but Steller’s and scrub jays are also found in this country.
Blue jays are known for storing food, including oak acorns. Most get eaten, but other acorns fall to the ground.
Jays are quite mischievous and have been known to steal acorns from other species, such as acorn woodpeckers.
Steller’s and Canada jays are quite fearless and will swoop in to snatch food from unsuspecting campers. Blue jays will also imitate the calls of red-shouldered hawks to fool other birds into thinking a predator is near. Jays and crows have a wide range of noises in their repertoire and make more than 20 distinct-sounding calls, including croaks, gurgles and rattles.
A final member of the Corvid family is the blackbilled magpie found in the West and parts of the Midwest, often in wide-open areas. A black, crow-sized bird, it has white patches on its sides and often feeds on ticks found on deer. It will perch on the deer’s back and enjoy its meal.
Studies show corvids are smart enough to plan ahead and also solve problems and remember past events.
In short, they’re very brainy birds.
