Flightless but Not Thoughtless: Emus and Rheas Prove Their Problem-Solving Prowess
For decades, crows and parrots have dominated the avian intelligence scene, flaunting their tool use and problem-solving skills. However, a new study has turned the spotlight onto a far more ancient group of birds—the palaeognaths. These flightless, dinosaur-like birds, including emus, rheas, and ostriches, have long been dismissed as 'bird-brained'. But recent research suggests we may have underestimated their cognitive abilities.
A team of researchers from the University of Bristol has provided the first evidence of technical innovation in palaeognath birds, showing that emus and rheas can problem-solve to access food. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, challenge long-held assumptions about intelligence in birds with smaller brains.
The Experiment: A New Kind of Puzzle
To test the problem-solving abilities of these birds, scientists designed a novel 'rotary task'. Unlike traditional puzzle boxes where animals must remove a barrier to access food, this test required birds to align a hole in a rotating wheel with a food chamber—a challenge requiring trial and error.
Nine individuals from three species—emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), greater rhea (Rhea americana), and common ostrich (Struthio camelus)—participated in the study. The results were striking: three emus and one rhea successfully figured out how to turn the wheel to get their reward, with an impressive 90% accuracy in moving the hole towards food.
One particularly clever rhea went a step further, dismantling the apparatus entirely by unscrewing the central bolt—a feat not even the researchers had anticipated. This unexpected act of mechanical ingenuity suggests that, while their problem-solving skills may be basic, palaeognaths are far from mindless.
Ostriches: The Odd Ones Out
While emus and rheas displayed an aptitude for innovation, ostriches failed to solve the puzzle. Researchers suggest that this might be due to their greater neophobia (fear of new objects), lower motivation, or even limitations imposed by their larger size and different foraging habits.
A Glimpse Into the Minds of Ancient Birds
Palaeognaths are among the most primitive living birds, sharing more traits with extinct dinosaurs than their more cognitively celebrated relatives, such as crows. This study suggests that basic problem-solving and innovation may have evolved much earlier in avian history than previously thought.
While their problem-solving methods relied on simple trial and error rather than complex reasoning, this research provides a fascinating glimpse into the cognitive abilities of birds often written off as unintelligent. As one of the study’s authors notes, ‘The results show that intelligence isn’t exclusive to birds with large brains—it’s all about how they interact with their environment.’
The Future of Palaeognath Cognition Research
This study opens the door to further research into the mental lives of flightless birds. Could they exhibit more advanced problem-solving under different conditions? How do their skills compare to those of tool-using birds? And could their cognition shed light on the behaviour of their prehistoric ancestors?
For now, it’s clear that these birds are more than just fast runners with small brains. Emus and rheas may not be solving complex puzzles like their corvid cousins, but they’ve proven that they, too, have the capacity to innovate—and that’s a finding worth turning our heads for.
4 Mar 2025
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