Recent research suggests that the term "simple-minded" may not be as insulting as once thought. Studies conducted by a team at the University of Tübingen in Germany have revealed that crows, commonly found in urban environments, are capable of counting up to four using sounds. These intelligent birds can match the number of vocalizations they make to the numbers they see, demonstrating a cognitive ability similar to that of humans, particularly young children learning to count. The findings, published in *Science*, indicate that crows can associate numbers with specific values and count in response.
The research delves deeper into the cognitive capabilities of crows, showing that they can plan their vocalizations ahead of time. When presented with visual and auditory cues, crows were able to match the number of caws to the corresponding number they perceived, suggesting a level of abstract thinking previously attributed mainly to humans. This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that crows possess advanced intellectual abilities, challenging the notion that such cognitive skills are unique to humans.
