Crows, ravens, jays, and other corvids are among the most cognitively sophisticated birds, with welfare needs that reflect their intelligence and social complexity.
The cognitive sophistication of corvids means that boredom and social deprivation cause significant welfare harm. Wild corvids that lose territories or mates show stress responses comparable to social mammals. Corvids in rehabilitation should be housed with conspecifics and provided with complex cognitive challenges before release. Keeping corvids as pets without appropriate facilities rarely meets their welfare needs.