This Crow at Cincinnati Zoo Sorts Colors Like a Pro -- And It's Incredible to Watch
If you've ever thought the term "bird brain" was an insult used to imply a lack of smarts, a crow named Tippi at the Cincinnati Zoo is debunking that idea-and it's unbelievable to watch. Using its beak as a tool, this crow is able to sort by color with expert precision, a reminder of why crows are some of the smartest birds in the animal kingdom.
In a video shared on social media by the Cincinnati Zoo, Tippi the crow can be seen standing in front of three distinctly colored bowls-blue, yellow, and pink. Using its beak as a grabbing tool, Tippi then picks up matching colored shapes and places them into the corresponding bowls.
@cincinnatizoo Tippi the crow shows off her intellegence while sorting colors. She even corrects a mistake! Did you know crows are some of the smartest birds on the planet? As members of the corvid family, crows share a level of intelligence that rivals great apes in some tasks. They can solve complex problems, use tools, recognize human faces, and even remember them for years!
original sound - Cincinnati Zoo - Cincinnati Zoo
The crow sorts the colors with expert precision, never mistaking one color for another.
In fact, in one instance, Tippi places a pink shape inside the yellow container, only to walk away and immediately return to correct the mistake. It's a remarkable example of how intelligent crows are, with abilities that rival those of great apes, according to the zoo's experts.
Why Crows Are Considered One of the Smartest Birds
@aruikey0 Funny smart crow #funnyvideo#animal#bird#birdsoftiktok#crow
original sound - Aruikey
The Cincinnati Zoo's experts explain this impressive bird sorting behavior, writing, "As members of the corvid family, crows share a level of intelligence that rivals great apes in some tasks. They can solve complex problems, use tools, recognize human faces, and even remember them for years!"
Crows are members of the corvid family, which also includes ravens and magpies. In addition to their remarkable memory, crows demonstrate problem-solving skills and adaptability that rival some primates.
The way Tippi sorts colors is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to measuring crow intelligence. This bird's ability to solve complex problems is truly remarkable. Crows have been observed using tools in the wild, such as sticks or leaves, to extract insects from tight spaces.
In laboratory settings, crows have been observed completing multi-step puzzles that require planning, not just trial and error. Experiments have also shown that crows can bend wires into hooks to retrieve food, suggesting they not only solve problems but also understand cause and effect in a way that goes beyond simple instinct.
Crows also have exceptional memory, particularly when it comes to recognizing humans. These birds can remember specific faces and distinguish between people who pose a threat and those who do not.
Some studies have even shown that if a crow has a negative encounter with a human, it may alert other crows in the area, essentially teaching its flock to avoid that individual. This kind of social learning is rare in the animal kingdom.
So what does it all mean? Simply put, crows can engage in highly complex social behavior, use tools, create tools to search for food, and rely on strong memory and adaptability across different environments. Crows may be labeled "bird brain," but their intelligence is anything but simple.
Well done, Tippi.
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 9:44 PM.