Category: Birds
Familiar to most people as the common pigeon, these highly adaptive birds have spread from their original ranges in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia to urban locales all over the world. Cities offer them the open environment, cliff-like structures, and food they need to thrive. They have been domesticated for thousands of years – as food, as pets, and as a way of communicating over long distances (carrier pigeons). Some particularly hard-working carrier pigeons have even been awarded bravery medals for their services in saving human lives during war times.
“Bird Brain” should be taken as a compliment.
Calling someone a “bird brain” is an insult, but perhaps it should be reconsidered given how many birds display high intelligence and adaptability. For just a few examples, the kea from New Zealand can solve logical puzzles and work with other birds in order to acquire food, observations of Cormorants used by Chinese fishermen indicate that the birds can count up to seven, and many species of birds use simple tools such as sticks to help them acquire food or other items that catch their fancy! There is also a cockatoo named Snowball who can dance to the beat of Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” though whether this indicates intelligence or not may be a matter of debate or personal taste.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
