Pigeons Show Superior Self-recognition Abilities To Three Year Old Humans

[jenseits]

ScienceDaily (Jun. 14, 2008) — Keio University scientists have shown that pigeons are able to discriminate video images of themselves even with a 5-7 second delay, thus having self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old children who have difficulty recognizing their self-image with only a 2 second delay.

Prof. Shigeru Watanabe of the Graduate School of Human Relations of Keio University and Tsukuba University graduate student Kohji Toda trained pigeons to discriminate real-time self-image using mirrors as well as videotaped self-image, and proved that pigeons can recognize video images that reflect their movements as self-image.

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Pigeons Show Superior Self-recognition Abilities To Three Year Old Humans

[jenseits]

And then there's this one: Boomerang the racing pigeon returns to the owner who gave her away TEN years ago | Mail Online

This part is amazing: "She must have inherited her homing skills from her father, who was once 'birdnapped' and had his wings clipped by thieves, but escaped and walked 60 miles back to Mr Reardon's home."

Homing pigeons retain their sense of direction when WALKING? Wow.

[birdsnreps]

well duh!! pigeons are smart as hell :) i used to have one as a child, he was just as smart or even more so than any parrot :)

[Ashling]

They're amazing. I new they were ALOT more clever than people give them credit for (like all animals) but I didn't know they were that smart. And you should hear all the stories about homing pigeons finding their owners. wow. More smart than any parrot? Maybe... but nearly as smart as Ravens? :D