Self-recognition in corvids: evidence from the mirror-mark test in Indian house crows (Corvus splendens)

The ability to recognize oneself is separate from recognizing a conspecific. Self-recognition is a higher cognitive function and generally tested by a mirror-mark paradigm, in which the individual recognizes and responds to an inconspicuously placed mark on body from its mirror-reflected image. Although initially suggested to be associated with large-brained mammals, the ability of self-recognition has now been shown in non-mammals, including fish and birds. Hence, studies on many more species might be useful to understand general principles and underlying mechanisms of the evolution of social intelligence. Here, we examined self-recognition ability in Indian house crows (Corvus splendens), by testing them first for mirror-induced responses and then for the mark-directed responses. A circular coloured mark was inconspicuously placed on the throat under the bill where crows could see it only from its mirror-reflected image; a similar black mark placed at identical location which was difficult to be seen served as the control condition. We evaluated how closely crows viewed and inspected the object, and expressed social, contingent and self-directed responses to the mirror and cardboard. Crows exhibited greater preference in response to the mark when in front of the mirror, compared to they were in front of the non-reflective black cardboard. The majority (4/6) crows responded to the mirror-reflected self-image, as evidenced by attempts to remove the coloured mark by using beak or claws; no such response was found in control condition. These results suggest self-recognition by Indian house crows, and support the growing evidence that the ability of self-recognition is more widely present among animals.