The New Caledonian crow is a medium-sized member of the family Corvidae, native to New Caledonia. The bird is often referred to as the 'qua-qua' due to its distinctive call. It eats a wide range of food, including many types of invertebrates, eggs, nestlings, small mammals, snails, nuts and seeds. The New Caledonian crow sometimes captures grubs in nooks or crevices by poking a twig at the grub to agitate it into biting the twig, which the crow then withdraws with the grub still attached. This method of feeding indicates the New Caledonian crow is capable of tool use. They are also able to make hooks. This species is also capable of solving a number of sophisticated cognitive tests which suggest that it is particularly intelligent. As a result of these findings, the New Caledonian crow has become a model species for scientists trying to understand the impact of tool use and manufacture on the evolution of intelligence.
Region
Southwest Pacific
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout New Caledonia’s main island and nearby islands in humid forests, gallery forests, and secondary woodland. It frequents forest edges, maquis shrubland, and mixed agricultural mosaics where dead wood and leaf litter are available. Birds forage from the forest floor up into the canopy, often around rotting logs and branches harboring beetle larvae. They adapt well to moderately disturbed habitats but still rely on forest structure for nesting and tool-aided foraging.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Famous for sophisticated tool use, New Caledonian crows fashion hooks from twigs and pandanus leaves to extract grubs from wood. They plan multi-step solutions in lab tests and show remarkable causal reasoning. Their intelligence has made them a model species for studying the evolution of cognition in animals.
Temperament
alert, inquisitive, and highly intelligent
Flight Pattern
direct flight with steady wingbeats; agile maneuvering through forest
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small family groups, with juveniles sometimes accompanying adults. Monogamous pairs defend territories and nest in tall trees. They cache food and may share information within family units, facilitating social learning of tool use.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include harsh croaks and the characteristic qua-qua calls, along with softer rattles and clicks. Calls vary with context, from contact calls to alarm notes, and can be modulated during social interactions.
