Northwestern crows (Corvus caurinus) search along the waterline during low tide for whelks, or large snails. Which of the following statements about crows and/or the whelks they prey upon is TRUE?
A) Crows pick up a whelk and then carry it to a collection of whelks located in a safer feeding area away from the waterline.
B) Crows pick up a whelk, carry it over rocks, fly almost vertically upwards, then drop the whelk.
C) Large whelks are so heavy that carrying them costs more energy than the whelk supplies in calories.
D) Whelks are preyed upon only until clams are available, at which point the preference shifts entirely to clams.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crows are known for their problem-solving skills, including dropping hard-shelled prey from heights to break them open. This behavior is observed in Northwestern crows with whelks, where they carry the whelk high up and then drop it onto rocks to crack it open and access the meat inside.

Northwestern Crows (Corvus Caurinus) Search Along the Waterline During Low