Researchers have discovered another crow species that can apparently use tools. Known as the Hawaiian crow or the Alala, this clever creature can use sticks without any prior training or command.

There are numerous crow and raven species. However, tool use has only been observed among a single species known as the Corvus moneduloides (or the New Caledonian crow).

Like Us on Facebook

The New Caledonian crow is intelligent as it also possesses cognitive abilities and tool use. The bird uses sticks to hunt for insects hiding in tree crevices. Scientists have recorded them using more complex tools. However, their evolutionary path to tool use remains unclear.

In light of this remarkable discovery, scientists have begun investigating this unique behavior in corvids. Scientists have noted that the New Caledonian crow possesses oddly shaped beaks as opposed to its cousins.

The bird's beak appears straight yet angled slightly upwards towards the tip. This gives the bird an advantage in picking up tools such as sticks.

The Hawaiian crow, which is locally known as the Alala, also has a similarly shaped bill. However, the species is now extinct in the wild. A captive breeding program is in the works to release this rare bird back into its natural habitat.

Hawaiian crows possess the ability to use tools; they use sticks to obtain food. There are 109 Alalas in captivity, and 104 of them can extract bait without any other tools, and without any training or prompts.

The New Caledonian crow is a distant cousin of the Hawaiian crow. However, both species live in similar habitats. The New Caledonian is native to New Caledonia Island in the Southwestern Pacific.

The discovery could provide a crucial clue about how these crows evolved and adopted tool usage even if they evolved independently genetically. Researchers believe that studying these clever crows can unlock the secrets of evolution and the roots of the use of tools among birds and other animals.

This new study has been published in the journal, Nature.