Birds have often attained legendary status amongst their two legged admirers and achieved such feats as drug smuggling and speeds greater than broadband. Now New Caledonian Crows have stepped it up a notch and proven their tool knowledge is possibly a way to beat the I-only-like-shiny-things stereotype they have always been stuck with.

Scientists from both New Zealand and Oxford recently set a series of complicated tasks for captive New Caledonian Crows, and were well, slightly flabbergasted at the results obtained. Zoologist Dr Joanna Wimpenny from the Oxford team is quoted saying that these crows are now planning in “advance”. She goes as far as saying that a crow might “view a problem and know what the answer is.” The crows originate from a small South Pacific island and are aligning themselves well with evolutionary theory it would seem.

Barney “has now been observed using them [sticks] to inspect foreign objects that could potentially be threatening.”

Basically what Barney ended up doing was taking his stick and prodding a rubber snake to make sure it wasn’t about to lash out at him. What is important here is that Barney, upon realising he faced an age-old enemy, returned to fetch his stick before attempting to make contact. This clearly demonstrates more logic than some of those snake catchers out there.

Also check out this mildly amazing TED talk, detailing the incredible intelligence of crows, and how they can make you money.

[Source: Guardian]