Overview

• A study led by Andreas Nieder at the University of Tübingen demonstrates that crows can identify geometric irregularities in visual patterns without prior specific training.
• The research shows that crows achieved success rates of 50-60% in detecting outlier shapes, significantly outperforming the 16.7% chance level.
• As the complexity of the geometric shapes increased, the birds’ performance declined, echoing similar perceptual trends observed in humans.
• Detailed analysis supports the conclusion that this ability is an innate cognitive skill rather than one learned during the experiments.
• This research adds to the broader understanding of corvid intelligence, which includes skills like rudimentary counting and learned vocal responses.