Crows Who Hold Grudges (And Use Tools)
Crows might be the most passive-aggressive geniuses in the wild. These birds can recognize human faces and remember who wronged them—sometimes holding grudges for years. In some cases, they’ve even recruited fellow crows to mob specific people, proving they’re not just smart but also socially strategic. Researchers at the University of Washington wore masks while trapping crows, and years later, crows still attacked anyone in that same disguise.
Even more impressive is their tool use. Crows in Japan use traffic to crack nuts—they place them on the road and wait for cars to crush them, then swoop down during red lights to safely collect their snack. Others have been seen fashioning hooks from twigs to extract insects from crevices. With brains the size of a walnut, these birds pull off stunts worthy of a PhD.
