Nature & Environment

Are birds as smart as a 7-year-old ?

By T.K. Randall
July 29, 2012 ·  36 comments

Image Credit: CC 3.0 Vera Buhl University of Cambridge researchers conducted a number of simple experiments designed to test the intelligence of both birds and young children. One of the experiments involved the use of pebbles to raise the water level in a pitcher with the goal of raising an item floating on the surface so that it was high enough to reach. Surprisingly, the study found that the birds were just as good at figuring out how to get the item from the apparatus as children under the age of 7.

In a separate test researchers set up a similar experiment but using a u-shaped tube with the join hidden at the bottom. This time the birds seemed to be confused and couldn't figure out what to do while the children tested in the same situation sailed through without difficulty. Researchers believe that this demonstrates that children are better at putting preconceptions aside than birds.[!gad]University of Cambridge researchers conducted a number of simple experiments designed to test the intelligence of both birds and young children. One of the experiments involved the use of pebbles to raise the water level in a pitcher with the goal of raising an item floating on the surface so that it was high enough to reach. Surprisingly, the study found that the birds were just as good at figuring out how to get the item from the apparatus as children under the age of 7.

In a separate test researchers set up a similar experiment but using a u-shaped tube with the join hidden at the bottom. This time the birds seemed to be confused and couldn't figure out what to do while the children tested in the same situation sailed through without difficulty. Researchers believe that this demonstrates that children are better at putting preconceptions aside than birds.

Source: Zee News India | Comments (36)

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