Emus have long had a reputation for being unintelligent, often depicted with a vacant, quirky expression. This stereotype is humorously captured in the art of Wendy Binks of Stunned Emu Designs. However, despite common assumptions about their lack of intelligence, little scientific research has explored their cognitive abilities—until now.
A groundbreaking study has found that emus, along with their flightless relatives, are capable of problem-solving and innovation, challenging previous notions about their intelligence.
The Study: Testing Bird Intelligence
Researchers at the University of Bristol in Britain, led by Dr. Fay Clark, investigated the cognitive abilities of emus and other large, flightless birds. Their findings indicate that these birds can develop new techniques to solve complex tasks.
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“A large body of research shows that crows and parrots are effective problem-solvers,” Dr. Clark explained. “While scientists have recently taken interest in other birds like gulls and birds of prey, all of these birds belong to the same phylogenetic group, Neognathae.”
Most modern birds—nearly 10,000 species—fall under this category. However, Clark argues that studying only certain groups creates an “echo chamber” of knowledge, leading to the misconception that other species, like emus, lack intelligence simply because they haven’t been studied in the same depth.
Palaeognaths: The Understudied Cousins
Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and greater rheas (Rhea americana) belong to a smaller group of modern birds called Palaeognathae. This clade includes other large, flightless birds such as ostriches, cassowaries, kiwis, and tinamous, which evolved flightlessness and gigantism over time.
Palaeognaths generally have smaller relative brain sizes compared to other birds, leading to assumptions about their intelligence. However, Dr. Clark suggests that studying them further could provide a more comprehensive picture of bird cognition.
“The more we study palaeognath birds, the more we can understand the broader picture of bird intelligence,” she said.
The Puzzle Test: Measuring Innovation
To test their problem-solving skills, Clark and her colleagues presented a mechanical puzzle to three emus, two greater rheas, and four common ostriches (Struthio camelus). The puzzle involved aligning holes in a plastic wheel, which was held together by a nut and bolt, in order to access a hidden food reward.
First, the birds were shown a solved version of the puzzle, where the food was easily accessible. Then, they were given an unsolved version and had 30 minutes to figure it out.
The results were surprising:
- All three emus solved the puzzle on their first attempt.
- The emus could also solve it repeatedly when it was reset, moving the wheel in the correct direction towards the food 90% of the time.
- One male rhea successfully solved the puzzle and even invented a second technique—rotating the bolt in the middle of the wheel until the mechanism fell apart, granting access to the food.
- None of the ostriches were able to solve the task.
What This Means for Bird Intelligence
While the problem-solving methods used by emus and rheas were simpler than those observed in crows and parrots, Dr. Clark emphasizes that their ability to innovate is still significant.
“We classify palaeognath innovation as low level or simplistic, and it is certainly not as complex as the innovation we see in crows and parrots,” she said. “However, it is still a very important finding.”
Before this study, there were no reports of technical innovation in palaeognaths. The common assumption was that these birds lacked problem-solving skills altogether. This research challenges that view, suggesting that technical innovation may have evolved far earlier in birds than previously thought.
Implications: What Can This Tell Us About Dinosaurs?
Because palaeognath birds are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs, Dr. Clark believes that further research could help scientists better understand how dinosaurs may have behaved.
“Our research suggests that these birds are far from ‘dumb,’” she said. “And by studying them, we may even gain insight into the problem-solving abilities of their prehistoric ancestors.”
This study highlights the importance of broadening research beyond well-known intelligent bird species like parrots and crows. As more studies investigate underrepresented bird groups, we may continue to uncover hidden depths of intelligence in the animal kingdom.
Final Thoughts
While emus may still look a little quirky, they have proven that they are much more than just amusing, “stunned” birds. This study not only reshapes our understanding of bird cognition but also challenges long-standing biases in animal intelligence research.
Emus, it turns out, aren’t as “dumb” as we thought.
