Animals & nature · 2010
How long can wild American crows recognize a masked face linked to being captured?
For at least 2.7 years, according to a field experiment near Seattle. Wild American crows learned to recognize a mask worn during capture and later scolded people wearing it. Few scolded the trappers when they wore no mask or a different mask. The study does not establish how much longer this recognition might last.
Details
Researchers wore a distinctive mask while capturing, banding and releasing wild American crows at five sites near Seattle. This associated a particular masked face with being captured.
Before capture, few crows scolded people wearing that mask. Afterward, crows consistently gave harsh calls and gathered to harass its wearers—even in crowds and when the wearers differed in size, age, gender or walking style. Few scolded the trappers without a mask or with a mask not used during capture. These comparisons support recognition of the particular masked face rather than simply a response to the trapper or to anyone wearing a mask.
The experiment found rapid learning and recognition lasting at least 2.7 years. It tested a masked face associated with capture, not every kind of human face or threatening encounter. The 2.7 years is a demonstrated duration, not a proven limit on memory.
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