The researchers found that ravens often use their beaks like hands to make gestures, such as this male raven is doing as the bird shows two of its kin an object in its beak.
Image: Thomas Bugnyar
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Ravens use their beaks and wings much like humans rely on our hands to make gestures, such as for pointing to an object, scientists now find.
This is the first time researchers have seen gestures used in this way in the wild by animals other than primates.
From the age of 9 to 12 months, human infants often use gestures to direct the attention of adults to objects, or to hold up items so that others can take them. These gestures, produced before children speak their first words, are seen as milestones in the development of human speech.
Dogs and other animals are known to point out items using gestures, but humans trained these animals, and scientists had suggested the natural development of these gestures was normally confined only to primates, said researcher Simone Pika, a biologist at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Germany. Even then, comparable gestures are rarely seen in the wild in our closest living relatives, the great apes—for instance, chimpanzees in the Kibale National Park in Uganda employ so-called directed scratches to indicate distinct spots on their bodies they want groomed.
Still, ravens and their relatives such as crows and magpies have been found to be remarkably intelligent over the years, surpassing most other birds in terms of smarts and even rivaling great apes on some tests.
"[What] I noticed when I encountered ravens for the first time is that they are, contrary to my main focus of research, chimpanzees, a very object-oriented species," Pika said. "It reminded me of my childhood, when my twin brother and I were still little and one of us suddenly regained a favorite toy, which existence both of us had forgotten for a little while. This toy suddenly became the center of interest, fun and competition. Similar things happen, when ravens play with each other and regain objects."
Beak gestures
To see if ravens communicated using gestures, scientists investigated wild ravens in Cumberland Wildpark in Grünau, Austria. Each bird was individually tagged to help identify them.
The researchers saw the ravens use their beaks much like hands to show and offer items such as moss, stones and twigs. These gestures were mostly aimed at members of the opposite sex and often led those gestured at to look at the objects. The ravens then interacted with each other—for example, by touching or clasping their bills together, or by manipulating the item together. As such, these gestures might be used to gauge the interest of a potential partner or strengthen an already existing bond.
"Most exciting is how a species, which does not represent the prototype of a 'gesturer' because it has wings instead of hands, a strong beak and can fly, makes use of very sophisticated nonvocal signals," Pika told LiveScience.
Origin of gestures
Ravens are known to possess a relatively high degree of cooperation between partners. These findings suggest that gestures evolved in a species that demonstrates a high degree of collaborative abilities, a discovery that might shed light on the origin of gestures within humans.
"Gesture studies have too long focused on communicative skills of primates only," Pika said. "The mystery of the origins of human language, however, can only be solved if we look at the bigger picture and also consider the complexity of the communication systems of other animal groups."
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11 Comments
Add CommentSuddenly flipping the bird has new meaning.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJarvan: You think the ravens haven't heard that one a thousand times? Better get yourself a car cover for Christmas this year . . . .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell, yes, but so do lots of other birds! Have you never watched them? Robins and blackbirds use specific non verbal signals to one another all the while. So, incidentally, do cats and squirrels to name but a few. Where have these researchers been living all their lives? Time to open your eyes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust to add to the previous comment, watch a pair of blue tits nest building. They wouldn't achieve it without cooperation would they, and if you look you will see just how. Collaboration, including 'gestures' is the norm, not the exception.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHuh... Auntie Gert I thought you were kidding "blue tits"... there is actually a bird species called a blue tits. For the record my dog regularly points with her nose and when playing with other dogs she actually uses her paws by placing one in front of her in a particular direction to indicate to another dog where in the high grass her ball has gone. It's then a game of who can get to it first.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy dog also uses gestures from time to time. When we are out walking, and we come to a corner where we sometimes go straight or turn, she will "ask" which was we are going by pointing her whole first left, then right, several times till I tell her "this way", whichever way I have decided we are going. She has a preferred direction, and she always tries hard steer me that way.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe also have chickens. When the roosters find a tasty worm or other treat, they will call the hens by clucking and crowing. They will point with their beaks at the location of the treat, or even pick it up and drop it to show "the girls" that it is for real.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy Bombay cat has taught me that when she nods her head sharply, it means I should drop the item in my hand onto the floor. My son's friend has a male Bombay who does the same thing.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA bearded dragon shows submission by raising an "arm".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Enough", she said.
I think the point made about co-operative nest building in birds is a really good one. Sounds like a first-rate research opportunity to me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisQuote the raven, "Who needs a paw?"
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