Not such bird brains after all: Ducklings are smarter than we thought as they can distinguish between 'same' and 'different'

Ducklings are among the most adorable creatures on the planet, but the fluffy baby birds are probably most well-known for the way they unquestionably follow their mothers. But it seems that baby mallards are more intelligent than had been previously realised, according to a recent study. Recently-hatched ducklings can understand the concepts of'same' and'different' - an ability previously known in only highly intelligent animals, new research has shown. Ducklings are one of the most adorable animals, and the furry little birds are probably most well-known for the cute way they follow their mothers, not for their intelligence. Ducklings learn to follow their mother through a learning process called imprinting, where they identify and begin to follow the first thing they see.