Meet the bird that can understand human commands

Leo the rook can respond to various voice commands

Scientists have found that a type of bird, called a rook, can follow human voice commands - just like a dog.

A rook is part of the family of birds known as corvids, which also includes crows and ravens. Rooks are large, black feathered birds that are known to be highly social.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that one particular rook, named Leo, could learn three commands by sound alone.

In further tests, two other rooks were also able to follow human voice commands.

The researchers suggest that animals don't need to be domesticated like dogs to be able to follow human voices.

Corvid birds, like crows and jays, are known to be super-intelligent.

Previous research with crows has shown they have the ability to use tools and make different noises on command.

In the Comparative Cognition Laboratory at Cambridge University, researchers study intelligence and problem-solving in corvids.

They found that Leo the rook was able to respond to the commands "speak" with a caw, "come here" and "wait"!

Leo the rook demonstrating the 'speak' command

Scientists first tested Leo using a worm which they held up for the various commands, later the researcher used sunglasses to hide their eyes to show it wasn't reliant on eye gaze cues and finally recorded voice commands were used.

The researchers concluded that Leo could follow commands by sound alone, without relying on gestures or lip movements.

Two more rooks, Connelly and Fry, showed the ability to learn the commands, but likely did not have enough time to reach the same level as Leo.

The researcher say the study suggests that animals don't need domestication, such as dogs or cats, to learn and follow human voices.