Date: January 22, 2018
Source: University of St. Andrews
Summary:
Biologists have discovered why
some crows 'craft' elaborate hooked tools out of branched twigs.
The new study, published
in Nature Ecology & Evolution today (22 January), explores why
crows go the extra mile rather than using simple, unmodified sticks to extract
prey -- it allows them to get at hidden food several times faster than if they
used basic (non-hooked) tools.
New Caledonian crows are famous
for their use of tools to winkle beetle grubs and other small prey out of
hiding places. Although crows are capable of extracting food with straight
twigs, in some areas they actively manufacture hooked stick tools before going
hunting.
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