Research found that crows have something that resembles the amygdala in mammals, and it has the recognition function.

Throughout history, crows have always been considered powerful symbols. In ancient drawings and writings, the black-winged bird merged as a potent sign.

It has been associated with both positive and negative symbolic meanings, such as mystery, spiritualism, destiny, a bad omen, as well as fearlessness, adaptability, intelligence, and transformation.

Aside from their reputation, crows are fascinating creatures, and along with other corvids, they’re some of the most intelligent animals in the animal kingdom.

Yet, one thing that most of you surely didn’t expect is that these birds do not let karma do their dirty work! Actually, crows are reported to be able to remember faces, so it will come to make things even in case you have a grudge with it!

You better believe it!

This fact about crows went viral after a British quiz account shared it on Twitter:

“Crows not only hold grudges, they tell their friends and family about them”.

John Marzluff from the University of Washington decided to make a research about this back in 2011. The study found that crows and humans have one thing in common, they can retain images of faces, and they can associate those faces with polarizing feelings.

One of my former roommates had a crow enemy, and she had no idea what she did. It likes to wait outside our house for her, though.

— Megan Dosher Hansen (@megateer) June 28, 2020

Researchers revealed that crows remember the faces of people who have done them wrong and if they see them again, they may even attack them with a group of other crows!

Crows have something that resembles the amygdala in humans and other mammals. This area of their brain has the recognition function, and it works similarly to the one in the brains of mammals.

We’ve left a crow family alone in our yard for 20+ generations (and talk to them when they turn up). Each year the parents bring their fledglings to the yard, to be introduced to us. We never get swooped, they leave our vegetables alone, and they chase away pest bird species.

— Stuart (@StmacR) June 28, 2020

The follow-up study indicated that when crows detect a face they remember, their brains light up much like the mind of humans.

This kind of research was performed on a bird for the first time, and Marzluff explained that this organ in these birds corresponds to the amygdala of mammals:

“The amygdala is the region of the vertebrate brain where negative associations are stored as memories. Previous work primarily concerned its function in mammals while our work shows that a similar system is at work in birds.”

The research, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, specifies that by proper and consistent care, caretakers can lower the stress of animals in captivity.

They also teach their young which people to avoid, very intelligent creatures.

— mary_T (@rocketdog56) June 28, 2020

Dr. Marzluff said that these conclusions could serve to make better-behaved crows:

“By feeding and caring for birds in captivity their brain activity suggests that the birds view their keepers as valued social partners, rather than animals that must be feared.”

This is his conclusion:

 “If you can learn who to avoid and who to seek out, that’s a lot easier than continually getting hurt. I think it allows these animals to survive with us and take advantage of us in a much safer, more effective way.”

Okay, so you better remove crows from your enemy list!

Source: www.livescience.com