Magpie Intelligence Shaped by Social Environment, Not Genetics
Recent studies debunk the notion of innate intelligence in Australian magpies, highlighting the role of upbringing and group size in cognitive development.
- New research reveals that Australian magpies' intelligence is significantly influenced by their social environment rather than genetics.
- Studies show magpies raised in larger groups exhibit quicker cognitive development and problem-solving abilities.
- Associative learning tests demonstrate that fledgling magpies' intelligence is not inherited but is shaped by their upbringing and social interactions.
- Magpies have been observed to remember up to 30 human faces, highlighting their complex cognitive abilities.
- The findings challenge the traditional view of intelligence being innate and suggest the importance of social factors in cognitive development.
Cosmos 
The Conversation 