Study Findings
Emus and rheas, previously considered less intelligent, demonstrated technical innovation by solving a physical task to access food, with emus creating a new technique in 90% of cases.
A male rhea not only used the existing technique but also invented a new one, showcasing the birds' cognitive abilities beyond what was previously documented.
Research Implications
This study challenges the notion of palaeognath birds as "dumb," suggesting that their problem-solving skills were underestimated due to a lack of prior research.
The findings pave the way for further cognitive research on palaeognath birds, potentially offering insights into the behavior of their dinosaur ancestors.