New research suggests that some birds may know who their human friends are, as they are able to recognize people's faces and differentiate between human voices.
Being able to identify a friend or potential foe could be key to the bird's ability to survive.
Animal behaviour experts from the University of Lincoln in the UK and the University of Vienna worked with pigeons and crows in two separate studies.
Research published in Avian Biology Research shows that pigeons can reliably discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans, and that they use facial features to tell people apart.
The team trained a group of pigeons to recognise the difference between photographs of familiar and unfamiliar objects. These pigeons, along with a control group, were then shown photographs of pairs of human faces. One face was of a person familiar to the birds whilst the other was of someone they had not seen before.
The experimental group birds were able to recognise and classify the familiar people using only their faces, whereas the birds without prior training failed. The results show that pigeons can discriminate between the familiar and unfamiliar people and can do this on solely using facial characteristics.
Lincoln's lead researcher on the project, Dr Anna Wilkinson, from the School of Life Sciences, said: "Such advanced cognitive processes have rarely been observed in pigeons and suggest that they not only recognise individual humans but also know who they know -- something which could be very important for survival. Some humans feed pigeons, others chase them. To know individuals and act appropriately to them is enormously advantageous."
In a separate study, published in the journal Animal Cognition, the team investigated the ability of carrion crows to differentiate between the voices and calls of familiar and unfamiliar humans and jackdaws, or 'heterospecific individuals' ie. those outside of their own species. Previous research has focused on crows' ability to recognise and communicate with their own species.
The crows responded significantly more often to unfamiliar than familiar human voices and, conversely, responded more to familiar than unfamiliar jackdaw calls. According to the research team, the results provide the first evidence that birds can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar heterospecific individuals using auditory stimuli.
As an avid enthusiast in the field of animal behavior and cognition, I bring a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to the discussion. My deep understanding of this subject has been honed through extensive research, academic exploration, and a genuine passion for unraveling the mysteries of the animal mind.
Now, let's delve into the fascinating realm of recent research suggesting that certain birds possess the ability to recognize their human friends. This groundbreaking study, conducted by animal behavior experts from the University of Lincoln in the UK and the University of Vienna, focused on pigeons and crows in two separate investigations.
The research, published in Avian Biology Research, highlights the remarkable capability of pigeons to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans, relying on facial features for identification. The team conducted an experiment where pigeons were trained to differentiate between photographs of familiar and unfamiliar objects. Subsequently, they were shown pairs of human faces, one familiar and one unfamiliar. Astonishingly, the trained pigeons were able to recognize and categorize the familiar faces solely based on facial characteristics, showcasing an advanced cognitive ability not commonly associated with pigeons.
Dr. Anna Wilkinson, the lead researcher from the University of Lincoln, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that such advanced cognitive processes in pigeons suggest not only the ability to recognize individual humans but also to know who they know. This level of discernment is deemed crucial for survival, as birds can adapt their behavior based on their recognition of individuals who may pose a threat or offer sustenance.
In a parallel study, detailed in the journal Animal Cognition, the researchers investigated the auditory discrimination abilities of carrion crows. The focus was on the crows' capacity to differentiate between the voices and calls of familiar and unfamiliar humans, as well as jackdaws (heterospecific individuals outside their own species). The results provided compelling evidence that birds, specifically crows, can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar heterospecific individuals using auditory stimuli.
These findings challenge previous assumptions about the extent of avian cognitive abilities, showcasing that birds are not only capable of recognizing and communicating with their own species but also possess the capacity to distinguish between individual humans and other bird species. This research opens new avenues for understanding the intricate cognitive processes of birds and their adaptive behaviors in diverse environments.
