Bird brain is more similar to reptilian brain than mammalian brain is. Birds lack the neocortex, the hugely enlarged part of forebrains in mammals which is central to higher level logical thinking.

In their brain, birds possess a center called medio-rostral neostriatum (corresponding to visual lobes on the middle brain of the mammals) which is hugely increased and which seems to play an important role in avian thinking. These centers don't have the complex neuronal structure of the mammalian cortex, but they are organized like other nuclei of the brain in all vertebrates.

Some studies seem to indicate the presence of consciousness in birds, thus this capacity arose at the reptilian level and is not something proper only for mammals. In fact, brain to body size ratio of some birds (like parrots and corvines: crows, ravens, jays, magpies) is actually comparable to that of higher primates.

But scientists are still puzzled by the cognitive capacities of the bird brain. Like humans, songbirds are among the only animals that can learn new and complex vocal skills. Even mastering grammar-like patterns could be part of their cognitive repertoire! And a lot of studies pointed to a good summary of the evidence for avian intelligence. Scrub jays present episodic memory: they can remember when, where, and what is stored in their food caches. Moreover, scrub jays are able to attribute their own predilections to other members of the same species. Jays that rob caches are more likely to move their own caches than "honest" jays.

Doves, magpies, parrots, and ravens aren't fooled if an object is hidden: they have a mental model of its position.

Gray parrots (photo) and macaws are particularly brilliant, with individuals able to count to 7, recognize the concept of "none", and able to understand the concepts of "same" and "different".

Ravens, parrots, and New Caledonian crows have all been shown to be able to make and use simple tools, not to mention that tool use is much more widespread amongst birds (Galapagos finches, Egyptian vulture).

Striated herons use baits to attract fishes !

Some predatory birds, like Harris hawk, use teamwork while hunting, using a "bait and switch" technique: one bird will distract the prey while the other attacks for the kill.

When birds return to their original family groups after migration, they have not only to recognize and remember their former companions, but also to interpret subtle changes in temperament and appearance, things that require intelligence. Macaws are able to adjust feeding behavior: during the dry season, when they are forced to eat toxic fruits, they ingest huge quantities of clay to neutralize the venoms.

Cormorants used by Chinese fisherman, when rewarded with fish on every seventh fish catch, will learn this pattern and can keep count and predict their reward, asking it if the fisherman forgets to give it.

Hummingbirds are able to remember the spatial distribution of flowers that have nectar and of those that do not have and will not revisit bad ones.

Many fruit eating birds have seasonal foraging patterns and the locations of fruiting trees in a forest.

Surprisingly, doves - thought to be more archaic birds - surprised the scientists. They can be trained to recognize rank order, such as that A