# Tools of the Trade: How Crows and Ravens Use and Make Instruments

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/crows-and-ravens-7809891/tools-of-the-trade-how-crows-and-ravens-use-and-make-instruments
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/crows-and-ravens-7809891/tools-of-the-trade-how-crows-and-ravens-use-and-make-instruments.md
Podcast: [Crows and Ravens](https://stenobird.com/podcast/crows-and-ravens-7809891)
Published: 2026-04-23T07:00:04+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tools-of-the-trade-how-crows-and-ravens-use-and-make-instruments--71257409
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71257409/data.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/crows-and-ravens-7809891/episodes/tools-of-the-trade-how-crows-and-ravens-use-and-make-instruments
Duration seconds: 302

## Resource

Discover the remarkable world of corvid intelligence in this fascinating episode about tool use and creation among crows and ravens. Host David Hale explores how these incredible birds manufacture custom instruments, solve complex puzzles, and pass down tool-making techniques through generations. Learn about the New Caledonian crow's sophisticated hook-making abilities, common crows using cars as nutcrackers, and ravens solving multi-step challenges. This episode examines the science behind corvid cognition, including their capacity for forward planning, abstract thinking, and cultural transmission of knowledge. We explore how crows and ravens adapt their tool use to different situations, demonstrating remarkable behavioral plasticity and problem-solving skills. From wire-bending experiments to stick modification in the wild, discover how corvids rival primates in their tool-use sophistication. Perfect for nature enthusiasts, bird lovers, and anyone fascinated by animal intelligence. Topics covered include corvid cognition research, tool use evolution, problem-solving behavior, cultural learning in birds, and the implications for understanding animal intelligence. Join us for an engaging exploration of why crows and ravens are considered among nature's most ingenious innovators and master craftsmen.

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## Transcript

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