"Bird brain" is a compliment when you learn that New Caledonia crows
can outsmart scientists! Engaging narrative nonfiction coupled with
beautiful photographs makes for an excellent addition to the
award-winning Scientists in the Field series.
One of the biggest differences between humans and animals is the ability
to understand cause and effect, yet New Caledonian crows can comprehend
this concept. The crows' intelligence opens the larger discussions of
how brain size affects intellect and evolutionary intelligence. If crows
perceive more than we realized, can they outsmart the scientists?
Readers will see crows learning how to use extensive tools crafted from
the natural world around them without any outside influence. When these
crows are placed in a controlled environment, they are able to solve
complex problems with an ease that is almost uncanny. In this new
paperback format, the creators of The Frog Scientist take us to a
beautiful Pacific island where a lively cast of both crows and
scientists is waiting to amuse and enlighten us.