Corvids — crows, ravens, and jays — are among the most cognitively sophisticated birds on Earth, raising important welfare questions about how we treat them.
Given their high intelligence, crows and ravens are likely capable of complex emotional states including boredom, grief, and anxiety. Urban crows adapt remarkably well, but captive corvids — sometimes kept illegally as pets — can develop severe psychological distress if kept alone or without sufficient enrichment. Wild populations should be protected from culling programs that ignore their social complexity.