The Mind of a Crow: What Studying Corvids Tells Us About Cognition

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we think about cognition, but problem-solving and learning are not exclusive to machines or humans.

Corvids – members of the crow family – are renowned for their remarkable cognitive abilities, including tool use, memory, and social reasoning. Studying these birds offers valuable insights into how cognition evolves and functions in the natural world.

Join Professor Claudia Wascher as she explores the complex cognitive abilities of corvids and what they reveal about the diversity of minds in nature. By examining how these birds learn, adapt, and solve problems, we can better understand the mechanisms underlying cognition and what makes flexible and innovative thinking possible.

Part of Chelmsford Science Festival 2026.

About our speaker

Claudia is a Professor of Behavioural Biology at ARU. Her research focusses on the evolution of social behaviour and cognition across species, particularly birds. She is internationally recognised for pioneering studies on self-control, communication, and individual differences in animal cognition.