Crows display ‘metatool’ ability

 

Bird shares ability with humans and great apes.

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Recent studies from the University of Auckland on New Caledonian crows show that they possess the capacity to use one tool on another to get a snack, something of which humans, chimps and orang-utans are capable, but with which monkeys have difficulties.
 
"Evidence suggests that, from the earliest human stone tools, analogical reasoning has been at the core of human innovation," commented Russell Gray from the university. "This hallmark of human intelligence may also be at work in both the great apes and New Caledonian crows and may explain why, out all the crow species in the world, only these crows routinely make and use tools."
 
The researchers tested the crows by displaying a piece of meat out of reach inside a box. To reach the meat, the team placed a large stick inside another box, but this was inaccessible as well. The crows had to use another, shorter, stick that was within reach to get to the larger one.

Displaying reasoning qualities

"The creative thing the crows did was to use the short stick to get the long tool out of the box, so that they could then use the long stick to get the meat," said Alex Taylor, also of the University of Auckland.
 
Previous research had shown the crows adapt tools for use with a specific job.
 
As such, they demonstrated a level of reasoning on par with level ‘big-brained’ creatures, such as great apes.
 
 

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