The Crows Are Watching
A crow sits on a branch looking forward
Photo credit: Artistic Operations/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Crows remember human faces—and tell other crows about them too.
Walk by a flock of crows, and there's a good chance they're watching you. But these clever birds don't just keep their eyes on humans—they'll also tell other crows if a person does them wrong.
Most animals scatter when a human comes near, even if the person isn't paying them any attention, but studies have shown that crows tend to stay put when humans stroll by. If the humans are looking their way, though, that's a different story. Why? Because the crows are checking them out, too—and people looking directly at the birds are perceived as a potential threat, which sends the birds scattering.
And if someone does happen to mess with one of them, watch out—crows will remember the person's face.
A group of scientists proved this with a simple experiment. Researchers wearing rubber face masks trapped and banded multiple crows and then released them. Though they made every effort not to harm the birds, they knew the trapping process would frighten the crows. When the researchers returned to the area for part two of the experiment, some wore the same mask, which they called the "dangerous" mask, while others wore a different mask to see how the birds would react.
The scientists didn't have to wait long.
As soon as the crows saw the dangerous masks, they emitted an alarm call and then united as a mob to dive-bomb the people wearing them. The birds mostly ignored the people in the other, unfamiliar masks.
The scientists even took the test a step further by turning the dangerous masks upside down. That trick only confused the birds momentarily. The birds tilted their own heads upside down and started squawking the warning call.
It wasn't just the banded birds screeching and attacking the researchers in the dangerous mask, either. The other crows joined in, too—suggesting that the banded crows had communicated the warning about this particular face to their peers.
And the word continued to spread.
The researchers continued the experiment for five years. Each time they went out in masks the crows associated with a threat, the number of responding crows grew. It appears that crows have each other's backs—and they never forget a face.
QUESTION 1
QUESTION 1 OF 4
1 / 4
This article is primarily about _________.
A.how animals always scatter when humans come too close to them
B.how crows emit screeching calls of alarm whenever people are near
C.how scientists wear frightening masks to trap and confuse crows
D.how crows remember human faces and communicate with one another
D.how crows remember human faces and communicate with one another
QUESTION 2
QUESTION 2 OF 4
2 / 4
Based on the article, which of these is true about crows?
A.They use their ability to communicate to make other animals scatter.
B.They remember human faces only after positive experiences with people.
C.They use their ability to remember faces to warn each other of danger.
D.They remember human faces for only a very short time after they have gone.
C. They use their ability to remember faces to warn each other of danger.
Which passage from the article best supports the idea that crows aren't easily fooled?
A.It wasn't just the banded birds screeching and attacking the researchers in the dangerous mask, either.
B.And if someone does happen to mess with one of them, watch out—crows will remember the person's face.
C.The scientists even took the test a step further by turning the dangerous masks upside down. That trick only confused the birds momentarily.
D.Researchers wearing rubber face masks trapped and banded multiple crows and then released them.
C. The scientists even took the test a step further by turning the dangerous masks upside down. That trick only confused the birds momentarily.
QUESTION 4
QUESTION 4 OF 4
4 / 4
Which is the closest synonym for the word momentarily?
A.briefly
B.individually
C.permanently
D.frequently