Natural History Wanderings

YubaNet reported on two studies on birds abilities to recognize human faces and differentiate between human voices. In one study at the University of Lincoln pigeons were able to be trained to recognized the difference in known  and unfamiliar humans using facial features. As photographs were used the birds were able to make their determination using only facial recognition.

In another study researchers learned that carrion crows were able to distinguish between the voices and calls of familiar and unfamiliar humans and jackdaws. This was the first time it was demonstrated that birds could distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar heterospecific individuals using auditory stimuli.

Read more at YubaNet Research suggests some birds may know who their human friends are.