How Cognitively Advanced Can a Small Passerine Bird Possibly Be? Suggestions From Studies of the Great Tit
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Abstract
Among small birds the great tit Parus major stands out as especially good at performing various cognitive tasks that are impressive to humans. It may, for example, knock on kitchen windows to get bird feeder refills, drum on beehives in winter to lure the bees to come walking out, perch in flowering fruit trees and kill incoming bumblebee queens and large butterflies, give false alarm calls in order to monopolize bird feeders, and so on. Its ability for observational learning is especially impressive. Almost all impressive or unusual cognitive achievements have to do with food acquirement. Contrastingly, there are also some cognitive tasks that it seems unable to perform even though some other animals can do them (e.g., mirror self-recognition and tool use).
Keywords: great tit, Parus major, cognition