<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <P> See text </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Distribution map of the Corvidae . Native (Re) Introduced Extinct (post-1500) Extinct (pre-1500) </Td> </Tr> <P> Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers . In common English, they are known as the crow family, or, more technically, corvids . Over 120 species are described . The genus Corvus, including the jackdaws, crows, rooks, and ravens, makes up over a third of the entire family . </P> <P> Corvids display remarkable intelligence for animals of their size and are among the most intelligent birds thus far studied . Specifically, members of the family have demonstrated self - awareness in mirror tests (European magpies) and tool - making ability (crows, rooks), skills which until recently were thought to be possessed only by humans and a few other higher mammals . Their total brain - to - body mass ratio is equal to that of great apes and cetaceans, and only slightly lower than in humans . </P>

Are crows and ravens the same type of bird