So what are the smartest birds in the world?
Is there one that is the king/queen of them all?
Let’s get right to it!
What’s important about this article is what we can learn about different types of birds in terms of intelligence.
We’ll take an unbiased look at each type, assessing their strengths and weaknesses to determine which one is smartest overall.
Bald Eagle
Let’s start with our first contender—the Bald Eagle.
The Bald Eagle is one of the most well-known birds in North America, and one of the smartest birds in the world.
They are easily recognizable by their white head and tail feathers.
Bald Eagles are considered to be very intelligent birds and have been known to use tools in order to get food.
For example, they have been observed breaking open oysters using rocks!
However, they have a relatively short life span, being only about 30 years long.
This bird is strong and has been known to kill other birds as large as themselves!
African Grey Parrots
On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have African Grey Parrots—one of my personal favorites.
These parrots are very social creatures that mimic what they hear from their owners so well that they can sometimes be indistinguishable from humans!
They are very intelligent birds, and in one study were able to count up to six.
For this reason, these birds make great pets for people who want an affectionate animal that is also smart.
However, African Greys have a relatively short life span as well—only living about 40 years on average.
They are also very sensitive and need a lot of social interaction.
Duck
Next up is the Duck!
Ducks are generally seen as pretty stupid animals who waddle around in circles all day long—but they actually have some hidden intelligence.
A study performed by Dr. Donald Broom showed that ducks can recognize each other, form friendships with certain birds, and avoid those they do not like.
Ducks are also very social animals, as is evident by their loud quacking at all hours of the day.
In addition to this, ducks have been shown to remember where the best food sources in a certain area can be found even after being placed in another location!
These birds live on average about ten years and make great pets due to their affectionate and intelligent nature.
Pigeon
Our next contender is the pigeon!
They are often seen as dirty creatures that carry disease, but they too have some intelligence that we can learn from.
These birds tend to be very social as well—living with each other in flocks throughout most of their lives.
Pigeons are able to recognize their own reflection in a mirror, an ability only possessed by humans and other primates before.
They are also incredibly fast learners—when taught how to get food from inside of a box, they were able to remember the task for up two weeks after being tested!
Pigeons have been known to live on average for about ten years as well.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Next is the Red-Tailed Hawk, a very common bird of prey found in North America!
In addition to being really pretty birds with their rusty red tails, they are incredibly intelligent as well.
They have been known to hunt cooperatively, meaning that one hawk will flush out its prey from cover while another swoops down and catches it.
They are also able to remember the location of their prey’s den for up to two years!
Red-tailed Hawks have a lifespan of about 20 years on average.
Crow
Last but not least, we have the crow!
Crows are considered some of the smartest animals in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
These birds are able to use tools, solve complex problems, and remember the location of food sources for up to a year!
In addition to this, crows are able to communicate with each other using a variety of sounds that they make.
They also have been known to cooperate with other crows in order to achieve tasks like getting food.
Crows live on average about ten years as well!
Although there are some debates about which bird is the smartest, it’s clear that crows take the cake.
They have been shown to be incredibly intelligent in a variety of ways—making them excellent pets for people who want an animal with intelligence and smarts!
Well, there you have it, the smartest birds in the world!
Check out our other animal FAQs here:
- How Much Does a Bald Eagle Weigh?
- What Do Owls Eat?
- Can Swans Fly?
