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Crows Are Smart Enough to Count Out Loud Like Humans

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Math is not just a human trait. Various animals show signs of mathematical abilities. A recent study reveals that crows have a unique way with numbers, similar to human toddlers.

Children develop counting skills in stages. For example, when presented with three blocks, a young toddler might say “one, one, one” for each block. This is an initial form of counting, as explained by Diana Liao, a neuroscientist at the University of Tübingen, Germany. Over time, children progress to more advanced counting, simply responding with “three” when asked how many blocks there are.

Liao’s interest in whether animals can produce specific numbers of vocalizations led her to study carrion crows. Known for their intelligence, these birds were tested for their ability to vocally count.

In a study published in the journal Science, Liao and animal physiologist Andreas Nieder trained three male crows from the university’s aviary. They taught the birds to produce one to four calls in response to different visual and auditory cues. Successful responses were rewarded with food, while incorrect answers resulted in a timeout. Initially, the crows used a simple strategy: vocalizing until rewarded. To refine the test, Liao required the crows to call a specific number of times, and then peck a screen to confirm their answer. This change ensured accurate results.

The study revealed that crows can control their vocalizations, often planning their responses. Even incorrect answers were close to the correct number, suggesting a thoughtful approach.

The findings offer insights into the cognitive abilities of crows and other birds. Chris Templeton, a biologist at Western Washington University, suggests that intentional vocalizations could communicate specific messages in natural settings. For example, the number of “dee” sounds in chickadee calls correlates with predator danger levels. The crows’ ability to count shares similarities with human toddlers, despite vastly different brain structures. This raises questions about how certain species develop vocal control and flexibility.

Templeton emphasizes that intelligence manifests differently across species, shaped by their environments and evolutionary challenges. The discovery that both crows and toddlers share counting abilities highlights the diverse nature of intelligence in the animal kingdom.