Does Brain Size Matter? Why Are Some Bird Species More Inventive Than Others?

If you've ever witnessed a starling tear open a rubbish bag or a grackle steal your dog's food, you'll understand that certain birds have figured out how to take advantage of new eating possibilities, which is a strong indication of their intelligence.

It has long been a mystery to scientists why certain bird species are more inventive than others, and whether this trait results from larger brains (which intuitively seems logical) or from more neurons in particular regions of the brain.

It turns out to be a combination of both.

More neurons are tied to greater intelligence in birds

(Photo : Boris Smokrovic/Unsplash)

The scientists estimated the number of neurons in 111 different bird species' pallia, a particular region of the brain, as per ScienceDaily.

The cerebral cortex in humans, which is involved in memory, learning, thinking, and problem-solving, is analogous to the pallium in birds.

The scientists discovered that the species with the highest numbers of neurons in the pallium were also likely to be the most inventive when these estimates of the number of neurons in the pallium were paired with data on more than 4,000 foraging innovations.

Professor emeritus Louis Lefebvre of McGill University believed that the length of time fledglings spend in the nest as their brains grow might have a significant impact on the development of intelligence.

Lefebvre spent more than 20 years collecting instances of foraging advances.

The brain has more time to develop and acquire pallial neurons in larger species of crows and parrots, which are renowned for their intelligence.

The study's findings indicated how a life-history perspective may be used to better understand how cognition has evolved and assist to reconcile previously divergent ideas on the development and importance of brain size.

Also Read: Dodo Birds Weren't as Dumb as You Think, Study Finds

Evidence of bird intelligence

Although it is not a reliable indicator of intelligence, brain size and shape can provide some information.

Birds may be little, but their brains are disproportionately vast relative to the size of their bodies and heads, as per The Spruce.

In reality, apes, monkeys, and humans all have brains that are similar in size to those of birds.

A higher degree of connection between the different parts of a bird's brain may exist, despite the fact that its structure differs from that of mammals' brains, according to studies on the architecture of the brain.

This could suggest more intellect and quicker thinking than previously thought.

Direct observations of intelligent bird behavior provide the greatest indicator of how smart birds are. A few observations have been made in controlled lab settings and under scientific supervision.

Birdwatchers have also reported seeing their favorite birds acting in ways that are strange and appear to have been planned in advance.

The discussion of avian intelligence can benefit from both kinds of observations.

An illustration of avian intelligence is:

In Japan, carrion birds scatter nuts along roads in anticipation of passing vehicles crushing the shells. The birds then go for the nut meats while keeping each other safe by coordinating around traffic lights.

In the Galapagos Islands, woodpecker finches cut twigs and sticks to the right length to use as tools to forage for insects.

Green herons and other heron species utilize bread given to ducks, leftovers from outdoor gatherings, or even little leaves as bait to get fish to their nests so they may go fishing.

In the 1920s, blue tits discovered which milk caps had the most cream (whole milk) and pierced those caps to ingest the cream.

The Woodhouse's scrub jays may be alerting other birds to impending danger by holding funerals for deceased birds and making loud noises while avoiding the corpse.

Northern mockingbirds attack just those people who they believe may pose a threat to their nests rather than randomly assaulting everyone they see.

Related article: Using Artificial Intelligence to Track Birds' Dark-Of-Night Migrations