(November 6, 2010 at 5:36 pm)orogenicman Wrote:(November 6, 2010 at 2:11 pm)Chuck Wrote: It seems hasty to jump to the conclusion that the brain the size of a beer nut is as capable and versatile as a brain the size of a beer mug. It seems more likely that the bird brain may have been hardwired to perform a few types of tasks that are normally taken to indicate intelligence, but lack the versatility and adaptability of a more generalized ape brain.
New Caledonian crows have been seen in the wild teaching their offspring how to make and use tools. They wouldn't need to teach their offspring how to make and use tools if they were hardwired to do so.
Crows that never have contact with their mothers still use tools, so they are either very smart or it's hardwired
I saw once of a Budgerigar on the news that answered very smartly to people, and recognised himself on the mirror
