Crows are among the most cognitively sophisticated birds, capable of tool use, causal reasoning, and recognizing individual human faces.
Crows experiencing fear and pain have rich cognitive experiences that amplify their suffering beyond simple nociception. Urban crows shot or poisoned as pests suffer significantly. Their ability to recognize and remember individual humans suggests a subjective experience of their social world. Trapping and relocation causes social disruption to family groups that maintain long-term bonds.