Tool manufacture by naive juvenile crows

摘要

The use of twigs by these birds to coax out hidden food seems to be an instinctive skill.New Caledonian crows (Corvus monedu-loides) are the most prolific avian tool-users. Regional variation in the shape of their tools may be the result of cumulative cultural evolution -- a phenomenon considered to be a hallmark of human culture. Here we show that hand-raised juvenile New Caledonian crows spontaneously manufacture and use tools, without any contact with adults of their species or any prior demonstration by humans. Our finding is a crucial step towards producing informed models of culturaltransmission in this species, and in animals in general.