Preliminary observations of tool-processing behaviour in Hawaiian crows Corvus hawaiiensis

Commun Integr Biol. 2018 Oct 21;11(4):e1509637. doi: 10.1080/19420889.2018.1509637. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Very few animal species habitually make and use foraging tools. We recently discovered that the Hawaiian crow is a highly skilled, natural tool user. Most captive adults in our experiment spontaneously used sticks to access out-of-reach food from a range of extraction tasks, exhibiting a surprising degree of dexterity. Moreover, many birds modified tools before or during deployment, and some even manufactured tools from raw materials. In this invited addendum article, we describe and discuss these observations in more detail. Our preliminary data, and comparisons with the better-studied New Caledonian crow, suggest that the Hawaiian crow has extensive tool-modification and manufacture abilities. To chart the full extent of the species' natural tool-making repertoire, we have started conducting dedicated experiments where subjects are given access to suitable raw materials for tool manufacture, but not ready-to-use tools.

Keywords: Alala; Hawaiian crow; New Caledonian crow; construction behaviour; corvid; extractive foraging; material selectivity; tool manufacture; tool use.

Grants and funding

This project was funded through a BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) David Phillips Fellowship (BB/G023913/2 to C.R.), and a PhD studentship supported by the BBSRC and the University of St Andrews (to B.K.). Funding for the ‘Alalā conservation breeding programme was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Moore Family Foundation, several anonymous donors, and San Diego Zoo Global.