"Bird brain" is a compliment when you learn that New Caledonia crows can outsmart scientists! Engaging narrative nonfiction coupled with beautiful photographs makes for an excellent addition to the award-winning Scientists in the Field series.
One of the biggest differences between humans and animals is the ability to understand cause and effect, yet New Caledonian crows can comprehend this concept. The crows' intelligence opens the larger discussions of how brain size affects intellect and evolutionary intelligence. If crows perceive more than we realized, can they outsmart the scientists?
Readers will see crows learning how to use extensive tools crafted from the natural world around them without any outside influence. When these crows are placed in a controlled environment, they are able to solve complex problems with an ease that is almost uncanny. In this new paperback format, the creators of The Frog Scientist take us to a beautiful Pacific island where a lively cast of both crows and scientists is waiting to amuse and enlighten us.