New Caledonian Crow

I want one of these as a pet.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledonian_Crow

The New Caledonian Crow is the only non-human species with a record of inventing new tools by modifying existing ones, then passing these innovations to other individuals in the cultural group.

That's fucking sweet.

then passing these innovations to other individuals in the cultural group

I wonder if a computer generated video was made of one of these crows, lets say... cawing 3 times and then standing on one leg which then released food to the animated crow, would the real crow learn to do that if it saw the video enough times?

I'm not sure. I've seen some birds and other animals do some pretty crazy things. You use psychology techniques and you can teach close to anything. However, these have the instinctual drive to use tools.

However, these have the instinctual drive to use tools.

And humans don't? Sure they're not on our level of intelligence, but I think that is due to the fact that they don't have hands like us. Take away your voice and your arms and you will look as intelligent as one of those crows when you get hungry. And why does it take a large brain to be considered smart? Look at computers, getting smarter and smaller all at once. You'd think an animal that can fly would need to maintain its lightweight, so in order to develop its intelligence over time, it would become smarter without increasing in size.

I didn't think I was downplaying the signifigance of their achievement? :P If humans were removed, perhaps birds would become the next intelligent race .