Book Review: The Genius of Birds

"Were still sorting out why some bird species seem smarter than others.  Because they've had to solve problems around them - ecological, technical, or social?  Because they've had to sing their hearts out or whip up a beautiful bower to win over a choosy mate?  Intelligence as we understand it may vary among birds but no bird is truly 'stupid.'"

Don't let Jennifer Ackerman catch you trying to insult someone by calling them a 'bird brain.'  On the other hand, if you do, she probably won't mind.  In fact, she might think that you are paying a compliment.  In The Genius of Birds, Ackerman, a renown science writer with a keen interest in the bird world, explores the mysteries of avian intelligence.  Traditionally, scientists have been largely dismiss of bird intelligence, a belief I've seen reflected in more than a few zoo professionals (most notably the ones who don't actually work with birds).   Their undeniably complicated behaviors are largely attributed to instinct.  Ackerman, citing an endless stream of studies both in the lab and the field, shreds this belief.  Birds, she reveals, are a lot more the pretty faces.

When I picked this book up, I was expecting to read a lot about those birds which most people think of as the avian brainiacs - the parrots.  I was surprised to see that they were barely mentioned.  Ackerman does devote considerable space to the rival claimants for the title of "World's Smartest Birds" - the corvids (crows, ravens, jays, and their kin).  After the first chapter or so, however, even this undeniably clever birds take a backseat to a host of other, less-celebrated species, most the various small songbirds, such as chickadees and sparrows.  I'll be honest, these are birds that I had never considered to be particularly bright.  Then again, I realized, I'd never actually them much thought.  The realization that there are lots of very small, very intelligent animals flitting around is mesmerizing - but also a little unnerving.

How do we know how smart birds are?  Ackerman regales the reader with a host of anecdotes and experiments, describing how birds use their intelligence to solve the many challenges in their lives.  Actually, she details the many different kinds of intelligence that birds display.  Spatial intelligence is useful for navigating tremendous distances for migration, or remembering where food is cached for the winter.  Social intelligence is important for managing complex relationships in flocks or family groups, or keeping track of your neighbors and rivals.  Bird song is a very complicated process to master, with few displaying more intelligence in that regard than the mockingbirds.  Some birds, like the New Caledonian crows that she writes about so much in the early chapters of her book, are geniuses at tool use.  Others, like the ubiquitous house sparrow, are master pioneers of new environments, often to the detriment of other species.  Rather than solely relying on instinct, she often describes how birds prove themselves capable of adapting to extremely novel situations, as an increasingly human-dominated planet forces them to do so with great regularity. 

A point that she brings home often is that ever bird is the product of its environment, and that its intelligence is, like speed or camouflage, an adaptation to surviving in that environment.  Great problem solving skills are more beneficial (even necessary) for some species than others.  Whenever we talk about animal intelligence, we usually also end up talking about stupidity, often in a "har har har, what a dummy" tone about animals that strike us as less bright (in bird cases, these might be the ratites, like the ostrich and emu).  The truth is, as Ackerman emphasizes in the quote I've put above, no bird is "stupid."  All are well suited to their environment... or at least, they all were until we started mucking things up.

This is a book that I really feel should be required reading for anyone who takes care of birds, either professional (zookeeper, breeder, even farmer) or personally (pet owner).  If you are going to be responsible for an animal physically, you are going to have to be responsibly for it mentally and behaviorally.  For too long, people have been dismissive about how intelligent and complicated bird minds are.  If we don't recognize this - and adjust our care accordingly - we will not be providing them with the quality of life that they deserve.

The Genius of Birds at Amazon.com