Bird Brains

A slew of studies show our feathered friends to be far more intelligent than we once believed. Pigeons, for instance, have been reported to memorize more than 700 visual patterns. Crows pass knowledge to their young. They also use tools — twigs, for example (in certain captive studies, the crows bent wire into hooks and used these to obtain food). Parrots don’t just mimic; they have been shown to communicate with human words they’ve learned. Avian intelligence varies considerably, though, as anyone who has ever met a pheasant can attest. So where do ducks rank? I couldn’t find any studies done specifically on waterfowl, but I know they can learn to come when called, something my dog has trouble mastering. They also learn from the actions of their flock mates: I’ve observed a very shy young Muscovy watch her tame mother take treats from my hand and soon start doing the same.