Across bustling cities, birds are proving far smarter than many once believed. Researchers observing species like crows, pigeons, and sparrows have documented an impressive range of adaptive behaviors — from recognizing traffic lights to dropping nuts on busy roads for passing cars to crack. Some even use cigarette butts to line their nests, exploiting the nicotine’s insect-repelling properties to protect their chicks from parasites.

Scientists say these behaviors reveal not just adaptability but genuine problem-solving intelligence. The urban environment, with its constant noise, pollution, and unpredictability, may be accelerating cognitive evolution in birds. As natural habitats shrink and cities expand, these “feathered innovators” could serve as key indicators of how wildlife learns to coexist with human development — and how intelligence itself evolves under pressure.