“There is no clear correlation between absolute or relative brain size and intelligence. Assuming that absolute brain size is decisive for intelligence, then whales or elephants should be more intelligent than humans, and horses more intelligent than chimpanzees, which definitely is not the case. Jul 24, 2015″ I took this quote from NIH, National Library of Medicine.
I can also tell you that when it comes to backyard bird hierarchy, size does not always matter.
Case in point was an event witnessed by me today in my own backyard.
On display was bravery and not necessarily intelligence. In this particular case bravery took home the prize.
Late morning I stepped outside to a light holiday snow. It was expected, and I had filled the bird feeders the day before.
I felt a weirdness in the air, and a moment after I had this feeling, a huge coppery colored hawk flew over the pond heading in my direction.
It was close, and I marveled at its beauty and size. I wondered why it was in flight towards me, something totally unexpected.
Then I spotted the angry instigator, an adult mockingbird closely chasing it. It was unbelievable, you could see the absurd size difference.
The hawk was easily twice to three or four times bigger. The mockingbird's anger made up for the obvious difference in size.
The hawk was gone, and soon the mockingbird returned and proudly stood guard atop a metal hook by the feeders.
Even a large blue jay stood nearby, yielding until the mockingbird finally went on its way.
movingforwardslowly 