An adult male carrion crow in Paris.

A baboon, per anotherrecent study, didnt even showcase this ability, regardless of training.

After failing to train the baboons to do it, I wouldnt have expected crows to do it.

A new study reveals that crows understand the concept of geometric regularity, just like humans do.

An adult male carrion crow in Paris. (Photo: Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart viaWikimedia Commons,CC 4.0)

Perhaps, the paper muses, it helps them with navigation and orientation while flying?

Or maybe it aids them as they forage for food, or as they seek a mate?

In the future, Nieder and his team hope to discover more species with this skill.

A new study reveals that crows understand the concept of geometric regularity, just like humans do.

A carrion crow in England. (Photo: Jans Canon viaWikimedia Commons,CC 2.0)

Claiming that it is specific to us humans is now falsified, he concluded.

Its just now opening this field of investigation.

A carrion crow in England.

A new study reveals that crows understand the concept of geometric regularity, just like humans do.

Figure pulled from the study “Crows recognize geometric regularity,” published in Science Advances on April 11, 2025

Carrion crows scavenging in Paris.

A new study reveals that crows understand the concept of geometric regularity, just like humans do.

Carrion crows scavenging in Paris. (Photo: Irene Stylianou viaWikimedia Commons,CC 2.0)