Did you upset a crow recently? Science thinks it might have become your lifelong enemy

While folk tales and local lore had long been mentioning bird intelligence, it wasn’t until the early aughts that researchers at the University of Washington decided to conduct an extensive, decades-long study on crows to confirm it.

It all started in 2005 when a team of researchers, led by wildlife biologist Dr John M. Marzluff, began the ingenious experiment. The idea was to check if the crows can remember the faces of those who wronged them. If yes, then for how long?

Some from the team were tasked with trapping and banding the crows. The catch here was that they wore a specific rubber caveman mask to signify “danger” – aiding the crows to remember their faces. The rest of the team wore neutral masks, and left the flock unbothered.

If a crow feels threatened or sees a potential danger, it instantly registers that in its memory (Source: Pixabay)

Soon after, the researchers would step out with their respective masks on, to check the crows’ reactions, and the black fighters didn’t disappoint. The crows would get uncontrollably aggressive: yell and squawk loudly, dive from the sky to within a few feet of the maskers’ heads, swoop in to mark their territories. The birds would even follow the maskers throughout the campus. The ones with neutral masks received no such treatment.

Things took an interesting turn when after some time, even the crows who weren’t trapped, joined the mob. The trend continued for several years, leaving for only one logical explanation: the crows can pass on their knowledge, and hatred, to all other crows in the community.

The most remarkable thing about the experiment is that it continued for 17 long years. All through these years, the crows remained hostile and kept harassing the maskers.

The communication between crows isn’t limited to just danger, though. They also converse – in varying vocalisations – about other things like food sources.

These intelligent creatures are also highly observant and can mimic each other’s body language and eating styles. Known for their close-knit families, these birds also organise funerals of sorts, with the flock gathering around their dead pal in silence to mourn.

Are there any other animals with similar behaviours?

Crows aren’t the only birds who can display aggressive behaviour towards dangerous individuals. Their other avian counterparts like Australian magpie, Northern Mockingbirds, Canada geese, seagulls, red-winged blackbirds, and jays, also have similar survival strategies.

This shared aggression strategy is called “mobbing” wherein the entire flock starts squawking, diving, swooping, and threatening. This helps in both intimidating the threat and making it difficult for it to focus and attack.

However, the fraction of birds exhibiting this grudge-holding behaviour is still pretty small. It is mostly noted in bigger birds with prolonged breeding or nesting periods.

Even from amongst this small count, crows are the only ones who have been scientifically documented for so long. It hasn’t been established yet whether they are the ones with the longest duration of grudge-holding or just more studied. Whatever might be the case, if you cross a crow, get ready to be harassed by its entire clan!

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