Curious Cases - Clever Crows
The term 'bird brain' might suggest our feathered friends are stupid, but Hannah and Dara learn it's completely untrue. They play hide and seek with a raven called Bran, and hear how his behaviour changes depending on his mood. Corvid expert Nicola Clayton explains these creatures are actually cleverer than the average 8-year-old, and can learn how to choose specific tools for different scenarios. And neurobiologist Andreas Nieder tells them that while crows evolved totally different brains from humans - 300,000 years apart - they might just be capable of the same type of intelligence.
Contributors:
Bran the raven
Lloyd Buck, bird handler
Professor Nicky Clayton, University of Cambridge
Professor Andreas Nieder, University of Tubingen
Producer: Marijke Peters
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
A BBC Studios Audio Production
Published on Friday, 4th July 2025.
Available Podcasts from Curious Cases
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