According to some sources, African Grey Parrots are the smartest birds. I don't know where the Corvids (Crows, Jays, Magpies) fit on the bird bell curve, but I'd guess it's toward the far right, where the smart birds fly.

There was a program on a few years back, "The Bird Brains of Britian" which showed a lot of tits in action. 'Sounds racy, but tits are what we call chickadees - among the most delightful birds, and apparently, among the smartest.

If you've ever watched a bird sit almost motionless on its perch for long periods, you have to wonder just what's going on in the winged creature's "bird brain." Is thinking, dreaming, just taking a break, or looking for food?

Almost all birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act. I think the exceptions are Starlings and English Sparrows, both destructive, non-native species, but even the nasty brown-headed cowbird is protected, if memory serves.

S