Crows have been talking behind our backs for years. Now, artificial intelligence is finally tuning in. Researchers in Spain have deployed small microphones to capture the subtle, often unnoticed sounds of these birds—far beyond the loud, familiar caws.
The data set is massive, containing hundreds of thousands of different vocalizations. AI is sorting through the noise, grouping sounds together, and identifying patterns. The ultimate goal? Decipher what these birds are saying—and maybe even talk back.
This isn’t just about curiosity. Understanding animal communication could lead to breakthroughs in conservation, intelligence research, and even how language itself evolves. If AI can decode crow chatter, who knows what other species have been holding deep conversations in plain sight?
Five Fast Facts
- Crows have the intelligence of a 7-year-old child, capable of problem-solving and using tools.
- Some crows can recognize human faces and remember them for years.
- Birds like parrots and corvids have been observed using syntax, a key component of human language.
- AI has previously been used to decipher unknown languages, including ancient scripts.
- Crows have been known to hold “funerals,” gathering around their dead in apparent mourning.
