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Beware the crows

Study labels them grudge-holders

Beware the crows
Danielle de Wolfe
13 January 2012

While we're not in the habit of deliberately upsetting crows, we're also not too worried about their feelings. If they're heading towards our lunch, maintaining a full meal is our priority.

A new study has shown that we should probably rethink our behaviour. Not only should we give them the majority of our sandwich but we should also strike up a friendly, non-confrontational conversation about how amazing crows are.

Apparently, a crow can remember the faces of humans they take a dislike to and brand as dangerous and will harbour a grudge for the rest of their life. The report, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B (waaaay better than A), also reveals that the angered crow will also tell his mates who may return to help do you in.

The study exposed wild crows to a "dangerous face" by wearing a unique mask as they trapped, banded and released birds at different sites. The released birds then scolded the mask-wearer and called for their other crows to join in. The mask was then used in other areas and experienced grief from crows that hadn't been captured.

After 1 year, around 30% of crows encountered by people wearing the mask scolded consistently while that figure went up to 66% almost 3 years later. This. Is. Worrying.

Crows have always aced avian IQ tests, so this sort of behaviour isn't a huge surprise. It's just a welcome reminder that using them as a scapegoat (Hitchcock, step forward) isn't going to do us any favours.

We look forward to a SyFy Channel movie entitled Crowpocalypse sharpish.

(Image: Rex Features)