Animal Intelligence

African Grey Parrot Named Griffin Battles Humans in Shell Game Memory Game
Harvard researchers put an African grey parrot named Griffin up against children and adults in a version of the classic shell game. (July 10, 2020)

Pigcasso the Painting Pig
Pigcasso is a pig that paints for a living. The paintings help support Pigcasso's home at the Farm Sanctuary SA. (February 19, 2018)

Study Finds Sheep Can Recognize Human Faces
A study conducted by University of Cambridge researchers has found that sheep can recognize human faces. (November 8, 2017)

Scientists Say Chickens Are Intelligent, Caring and Complex
Scientists say chickens are very smart birds. They say they are intelligent, caring and complex creatures. (January 5, 2017)

Study Finds Magpies Faster at Scoring Cheetos But Crows Will Steal Them
A study involing cheetos, magpies and crows found that magpies get to cheetos faster but then crows steal the cheetos. (August 11, 2016)

Study Finds Bird Brains are More Neuron Dense Than Mammal Brains
A new study has found that bird brains are more neuron dense than mammal brains. (June 20, 2016)

Study Shows Crows Making Use of Water Displacement to Obtain Food
A new study has provided video footage of New Caledonian crows using water displacement to obtain food. (March 31, 2014)

Researchers Discover Jackdaws Use Their Eyes to Communicate With Each Other
Researchers have discovered that jackdaws use their eyes to communicate with each other. This is the first time the behavrior has been shown in non-primates. (February 5, 2014)

Crocodiles Observed Using Twigs to Lure Birds
Crocodiles have observed using twigs to lure birds. A mugger crocodile was photographed balances twigs on its nose. (December 8, 2013)

Magpies Make Decisions Faster if Humans Are Looking at Them Say Scientists
Scientists says they have determined that magpies making faster decisions if humans are looking directly at them. (June 7, 2013)

Wild Bearded Capuchin Monkeys Strategically Place Nuts Before Smashing Them With Rocks
Researchers have found that wild bearded capuchin monkeys deliberately place palm nuts in a stable position on a surface before trying to crack them open. (March 3, 2013)

Cockatoo Named Figaro Filmed Making Tools to Reach for Food
Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Vienna filmed a clever Goffin's cockatoo named Figaro making tools to reach for food. (November 5, 2012)

Asian Elephant Speaks Korean Say Scientists
An Asian elephant named Koshik has learned to imitate human speech. (November 3, 2012)

Study Finds Mother Dolphins Teach Sponging to Daughters
A group of female dolphins in in Shark Bay, Western Australia use sponges as a tool. (October 17, 2012)

Brainless Slime Mold Excretes Extracellular Slime to Remember Where It Has Been
University of Sydney researchers have found that brainless slime molds can remember using an external spatial memory. (October 9, 2012)

Scientists Wear Masks While Capturing Crows to Test Their Reactions to Human Faces
Scientists donned masks and then captured crows in a study that tested crows reactions to human faces. (September 11, 2012)

Pigs Interact With Large Touchscreen in Pig Chase iPad Game
Scientists have created an iPad game that pigs and humans can play together. (April 7, 2012)

Peter the Elephant Plays With Tablet
Here is a video of Peter the elephant playing with a Samsung tablet, the Galaxy Note. (March 29, 2012)

Tool Using Crows: Clever Crow Uses Lid to go Roof Tubing
Studies have shown that New Caledonian crows are smart enough to bend straight wires into hooks and use them to retrieve food from a jar. (January 12, 2012)

Video Shows Tool Use by a Fish
Giacomo Bernardi of the University of California, Santa Cruz, captured an orange-dotted tuskfish engaging in tool use in a video. (September 28, 2011)

Dr. Pepperberg's Research Finds African Grey Parrots Understand Colors, Shapes and Numbers
Dr. (May 2, 2011)

Magpies Recognize Their Own Reflection
Magpies apparently have the ability to see recognize themselves in a mirror just like people can. (August 20, 2008)

Alex the Talkative African Grey Parrot Dies at Age 31
Alex the amazing talking African Grey parrot has died at age 31. (September 26, 2007)

Chimps Make Spears and Birds Store Snacks
Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed making wooden hunting spears according to a BBC news article. (February 26, 2007)

Elephants Pass Mirror Self-awareness Test
The Washington Post reports that elephants have passed the mirror test. (October 30, 2006)