It's no longer an insult to be called "bird-brained." Scientists have discovered the New Caledonian crows deserve a spot alongside dolphins, monkeys, and chimpanzees in the ranks of super-smart animals. Yet even within this elite crowd, New Caledonian crows are special. These birds not only use tools, but manufacture a whole crow toolkit. And their puzzle-solving abilities invite the question: Is a crow smarter than a second-grader? Join the crow...

"Crows may not have flashy feathers, beautiful songs, or fancy flying skills, but if a crow looks at you with its small, round eye, you can be sure that it's thinking, as these birds have very big brains. Did you know that crows will use a stick to poke into a crevice to tease out tasty bugs? Or that they like to play like kids by tumbling down a snowy roof? Or that they remember where they hide their food -- but sometimes only pretend to bury a treat...

"Did you know that crows make their own tools, lead complex social lives, and never forget a human face? Scientists are just beginning to unlock the secrets of the crow's brain to discover how these avian Einsteins can be as smart as some primates, and even perform some of the same cognitive feats as human children! Crows have problem-solving skills that will make you you rethink what it means to be a bird brain!" --

"Crows that recognize human faces. Octopuses that make themselves look like other animals to avoid predators. Goats that can solve puzzles. No, these aren't scenes from a science fiction movie--they're real behaviors of these very smart creatures! Humans think we're pretty smart--maybe the smartest species on the planet. But are we really? It turns out there are tons of other animals challenging us for the prize. Electric fish send signals to each...