The Oriental Hornbill Achieves High Scores Comparable to Some Primate Species in Advanced Cognitive Tests.
When discussing intelligence in birds, we often think of crows and parrots, as they possess abilities that can astonish observers. However, the hornbill may also belong to the group of highly intelligent birds that have been overlooked.
The hornbill excels in high-level puzzle challenges. (Photo: National University of Singapore).
A recent study confirms that the Oriental Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is among the few species with advanced understanding capabilities.
This skill enables animals to comprehend certain concepts even when they cannot directly see them. For hornbills, advanced understanding may assist them in delegating partners to bring food to their chicks.
Additionally, it can provide significant adaptive advantages in activities such as foraging and avoiding predation.
To gain deeper insights into the intelligence of hornbills, researchers from the National University of Singapore subjected them to a series of progressively challenging puzzles.
These challenges increased in difficulty and were designed to test the animals’ cognitive ability regarding object permanence.
In Stage 5, the hornbills had to observe a reward placed under a cup. The reward was then transferred to another cup.
By indicating the cup containing the reward, the hornbills demonstrated their understanding of tangible movement. All six hornbills successfully passed this challenge, with three of them even advancing to Stage 6.
In this stage, the birds did not see the reward being moved from one cup to another. Instead, the food was hidden beneath a small red box, which was then transferred under a larger cup.
Hornbills are known for their fidelity, as they almost never change partners. (Photo: Getty).
When the red box was removed from under the cup and shown to be empty, the hornbills realized that the reward must have been left under the final cup, even though they did not directly see it happening.
This may seem simple to humans, but for animals, understanding invisible movement is a real challenge, as it requires a higher level of cognition.
It also involves integrating various cognitive skills, including memory, spatial reasoning, and logical inference.
Thus, the Oriental Hornbill is the first bird outside of the crow and parrot families to pass this challenge. Their level of cognition may even be comparable to some higher primate species, such as gibbons.
The hornbill primarily inhabits the forests of India, Southeast Asia, and southern China. However, due to illegal trafficking, this species is currently at risk of extinction. Under good living conditions and without threats, few bird species have a lifespan as long as that of hornbills, as they can live up to 50 years. Hornbills are warm-hearted birds and highly monogamous. They will not change partners throughout their lives and are very devoted to their families, working together to raise their young. This species has a profound belief in love. From the first day until death, they live happily in love and never betray. |
