Dimensions of corvid consciousness.
Walter Veit, Heather Browning, Elias Garcia-Pelegrin, James R Davies, Jamie G DuBois, Nicola S. Clayton
Animal cognition May 2, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-025-01949-y (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractCorvids (crows, ravens, jays) are examined through a five-dimensional framework for animal consciousness, which asks what it might be like to be a corvid. The authors propose an empirically grounded but speculative answer, drawing on existing research into corvid cognition and sentience. They then suggest future research directions and discuss how understanding corvid consciousness could inform ethical treatment and animal welfare legislation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Corvids |
| Keywords | Animal cognition Animal consciousness Bird consciousness Corvids Dimensions of consciousness |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | Proposes that applying a five-dimensional framework for animal consciousness can yield a speculative but empirically informed account of what it is like to be a corvid. |
Abstract
Corvids have long been a target of public fascination and of scientific attention, particularly in the study of animal minds. Using Birch et al.'s (2020) 5-dimensional framework for animal consciousness we ask what it is like to be a corvid and propose a speculative but empirically informed answer. We go on to suggest future directions for research on corvid consciousness and how it can inform ethical treatment and animal welfare legislation.