Several species of birds are among the smartest creatures on this planet, particularly those in the Corvidae family such as jays, crows, ravens, and rooks. These are considered the most intelligent of the birds. Now the official scientific species name of the rook, frugilegus, is Latin for “food-gathering”, which as the video and article linked to below illustrates is quite apt, since it turns out that rooks show an intelligence and mastery with tools that may even rival the chimpanzee:
The large black birds have astounded scientists by showing for the first time that they are as adept at making and using tools with their beaks as chimpanzees are with their hands.
Given tasks to test their ingenuity, rooks were able not only to select the correct tools for the job but also to fashion hooks out of wire, whittle sticks and select suitable stones.
Scientists said the results showed that the birds, from the crow family, had a high degree of innate intelligence rather than mere adaptability.
It’s looking more and more like being called a bird brain is a compliment.
