7 Birds that can remember human faces for years and surprise scientists with their intelligence
Birds are far more intelligent than they are often given credit for. A landmark study by researchers at the University of Washington, published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found that American crows can recognise individual human faces and remember them for years, particularly after positive or negative encounters. The study also revealed that crows can pass this information to other crows through social learning. Beyond crows, organisations and publications have documented remarkable cognitive abilities in other bird species, including strong memory, problem-solving skills, and the ability to distinguish familiar humans through repeated interactions. Together, these findings continue to reshape our understanding of avian intelligence. Here are seven bird species renowned for their exceptional memory and their ability to recognise or remember people.
