Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans

The ongoing connection between humans and crows–a cultural coevolution–has shaped both species for millions of years. Scientist John Marzluff teams up with artist-naturalist Tony Angell to tell stories of these brilliant birds. With Marzluff’s original research on the intelligence and startling abilities of corvids—crows, ravens, and jays—Angell’s line drawings, and a lively joint narrative, the authors offer an in-depth look at these complex creatures and the traits and behaviors humans share. These include language, delinquency, frolic, passion, wrath, risk taking, and awareness. Crows also gather around their dead, warn of impending doom, recognize people, commit murder of other crows, lure animals to their death, swill coffee and drink beer, design and use tools—including cars as nutcrackers—and windsurf and sled to play.