Top 10 The Smartest Birds In The World
Birds are smart in the wild. Many people have seen ravens using tools in flight! Blue Jays can imitate other birds.
A lot of birds are smart but some species are always smarter than others. Which are the smartest birds in the wild? How do they display their intelligence?
What Are The Smartest Birds in the World?
#10 Western ScrubJays
Western Scrub-Jays are some of the sharpest birds in North America, usually found in the scrublands and oak forests stretching across the western United States and Mexico.
No matter where these jays live, they all show a high degree of intelligence. They are able to solve complex problems and adapt to different environments.
Like other jays, these social birds communicate with each other about predators and food. However, when they plan to store their own food, they do it in secret!
Western Scrub-Jays plan to store seeds every year and other bits of food for later use. Amazingly, even though they hide thousands of seeds in many different location, they remember where they hid them.
When comes to choose food for storage, jays carefully inspect it and if the food won’t last long, they won't keep it. In order to hide durable seeds and nuts, a jay will wait until the other jays aren’t watching. Because they will steal food!
#9 Blue Jay
Blue Jays are commonly seen backyard bird in the eastern USA and Canada. This beautiful bird species is also one of the smartest birds on the block!
Thanks to their smarts, Blue Jays are adapt to all sorts of forest and woodland habitats as well as parks and urban areas.
They're social creatures and aren’t shy about making their presence known with loud, varied calls. What’s especially interesting is their ability to imitate other birds, particularly the Red-shouldered Hawk. Blue Jays might mimic this raptor to let other know about predators is around, or they might alarm other birds so they can steal their food!
Blue Jays are also known for storing acorns and other seeds. They can stash thousands for later use but these birds don’t hide any old acorn. They carefully inspect ones that will last and then recall where they hid them.
Studies have also shown that this species can even make basic tools!
#8 Woodpecker Finch
The Woodpecker Finch is a small bird in the Galapagos Islands. In that famous archipelago, it is common and occurs on several of the larger islands and uses both dry and humid habitats at all elevations.
Just as its name indicates, the Woodpecker Finch pecks on branches but not nearly as much as a true woodpecker. Woodpecker finch lacks the long tongue that woodpeckers use to extract grubs and other food items.
Although these little birds couldn’t evolve a long, specialized tongue, thanks to their smarts, they having another solution.
A better name for this bird might be “Tool-making Finch” because that’s exactly what they do! Woodpecker Finches use cactus spines and twigs to pick bugs out of crevices in tree bark! They can pick up these tools from a tree or the ground, but usually work on them a bit to shape them for better use.
Moreover, this bird species can watch and learn from other Woodpecker Finches!
#7 Loggerhead Shrike
Loggerhead Shrikes might not look like a smart songbirds, the same size as a cardinal. However, don’t let their slick looks fool you, these birds are serious predators!
You might surprised to find that Loggerhead Shrike hunts insects, mice, small reptiles, and small birds in grasslands and other open habitats. Sometimes, It can even catch animals as large as itself!
It uses its intelligence to watch for an unwary bug or animal. When it see chance, the shrike quickly flies in, grabs the prey, and uses its strong sharp beak to break its prey’s neck.
It might eat all of its prey, but if not, the shrike still has a trick up its sleeve.
Instead of leaving a half-eaten animal on the ground, the Loggerhead Shrike impales the remains on a thorn or barbed wire fence. That way, it has its own personal, open air meat locker!
Although locally common in some areas, sadly, Loggerheads Shrikes are declining in many parts of their range.
#6 Clark’s Nutcracker
The Clark’s Nutcracker is a clever and common bird that inhabits in the mountains of the western USA and Canada. One isolated population also lives on top of a mountain in eastern Mexico.
Though related to jays, they are not social birds, Clark’s Nutcrackers prefer to go solo. Even so, they are still highly intelligent and adapted to thrive in their cold, montane home.
Like many birds in the crow family, Clark’s Nutcrackers have a rich vocal range. They use distinct calls to signal danger from predators and are capable of mimicking various sounds. One of their most impressive tricks is imitating the tapping noise of a woodpecker—likely to trick these birds and keep them out of their territory.
However, this bird species is best known for its amazing memory. Clark’s Nutcrackers hide and store many thousand seeds each year. They remember where their food is kept and can even find it in deep snow!
#5 Red-billed Chough
The Red-billed Chough is a striking bird found in rocky, coastal cliffs and mountainous regions, often nestled next to pastures and grasslands.It's commonly found that the Red-billed Chough inhabit in parts of Europe, North Africa, Ethiopia, and in Asia.
The red-billed chough is a common bird in Mongolia and other places. However, the Red-billed Chough tends to be more localized in Europe.
Related to Crows, Red-billed Choughs are very social, intelligent birds. This species shows its intelligence with complex social interactions and acrobatic flying skills. If you’ve ever had the chance to watch them soar, you’ve likely seen them effortlessly glide and play in windy updrafts, showing off their aerial agility.
This species also display their intelligence when in searches for bugs and other types of food. The birds use their long red beaks as tools to turn over stones and dig in the ground. They’re also known for their unique behavior of perching on the backs of grazing animals like sheep, where they pick off parasites—making good use of both their environment and the animals they share it with!
#4 Rook
Rooks are a highly intelligent crow species found throughout much of Europe and Asia, thriving in farmlands, woodlands, and urban parks. While they are common seen in many areas, one thing is always clear: Rooks are rarely seen alone. These birds tend to gather in large, social flocks, indicating that their natural inclination to work together.
Even among crows, Rooks stand out for their problem-solving abilities. Research has shown that they can tackle complex puzzles, often using objects and collaborating with one another to find solutions. They’re also known for their resourcefulness when it comes to getting food. Many bird feeders have fallen victim to Rooks, as these crafty birds are quick to dismantle them in their quest for seeds.
A simple string hanging from a feeder won’t stop a Rook, either. Using its feet with impressive dexterity, a Rook will pull the string until it can grab the food—proving that it’s not just brains, but also a great deal of skill, that helps them get what they want.
Besides their impressive foraging techniques, Rooks will chase other birds to steal their food.
#3 Jackdaw
The Jackdaw is a small, but highly social crow species found across Europe, parts of North Africa, and as far east as Mongolia. These smart birds are commonly seen in farmland, urban parks, and areas dotted with scattered trees, making them a familiar sight in many different environments.
Jackdaws are known for their strong social bonds and can form enormous winter roosts, sometimes numbering in the thousands. Within these large groups, there’s a fascinating social structure—certain birds rise to the top of the pecking order, a hierarchy that starts to form when they’re young. In an interesting display of social dynamics, Jackdaws may even give food to others in order to elevate their status within the group.
True to their crow family traits, Jackdaws are quick to alert others when they spot a predator. They have a distinctive alarm call that signals danger, prompting other Jackdaws to gather and harass the predator, often driving it away.
But what really makes Jackdaws stand out is their curiosity and their cheeky habit of stealing unusual items from people. This mischievous behavior may be linked to their inquisitive nature. In fact, Jackdaws are more likely than other crows to flip over stones and rummage around for insects, demonstrating a unique blend of intelligence and curiosity in their foraging habits.
#2 Ravens
Ravens have well be known for their intelligence, a trait that has fascinated cultures around the world for millennia. In Scandinavian mythology, for example, ravens were seen as messengers of Odin, the god of wisdom and knowledge.
While there are various species of ravens, the most well-known is the Common Raven. This large crow species occurs in Alaska, Canada, the western USA, Mexico, and parts of the northern and eastern USA.
We also find them in many parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Common Ravens are fairly common species in most of their range and can live in Arctic tundra, boreal forest, mountains, grasslands, woodlands, and other habitats.
Ravens demonstrate remarkable intelligence in several ways. One of the most notable is their ability to mimc human speech, showing that they’re not only good learners but also quick to adapt.
But it’s not all about survival and mimicry—ravens also love to play! These birds engage in all sorts of playful activities, such as chasing each other, tossing sticks around, and even “sledding” down snowbanks on their bellies.
These playful antics aren’t just for fun—they also help ravens develop social bonds and refine their problem-solving skills, making them one of the most intelligent and fascinating bird species on the planet.
#1 Crows
Crows are the smartest birds in the world. Various species live in different regions, but all are highly intelligent.
In North America, the American Crow is common seen in farmlands, urban areas, and other habitats in southern Alaska, much of Canada, and in most of the USA. However, they don't usually occur in hot, arid habitats.
What sets American Crows—and crows in general—apart is their remarkable intelligence. These birds are incredibly perceptive of their environment and can even recognize individual humans, remembering those who have treated them poorly! This ability to identify and remember people highlights just how keen their minds are.
Crows also have complex social behaviors, with sophisticated communication systems that allow them to interact and coordinate with one another. They can even mimic human speech, adding another layer to their impressive cognitive abilities. But their intelligence isn’t all about survival—these birds love to play. They’ve been known to engage in playful antics with each other and even play tricks on the scientists who study them!
All crows are smart, but the New Caledonian Crow could be the smartest. This bird makes tools out of branches and other objects to reach its food!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most intelligent bird in the world?
The most intelligent bird might be the New Caledonian Crow. This crow species is able to makes tools and demonstrates other aspects of high intelligence.
Which bird has the highest IQ?
The bird with the highest IQ could be the African Gray Parrot, Kea, macaw species, the Common Raven, or the New Caledonian Crow. All of these species show high levels of intelligence but they haven’t been given comparable IQ tests.
Who is smarter, crow or raven?
Crows and ravens are equally smart. However, the New Caledonian Crow might be smarter than all of them.
What is the smartest pet bird?
The smartest pet bird is the African Gray Parrot. However, cockatoos, macaws, and other parrots are also very smart birds.
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