34 Birds live in a world that is dominated by sight and sound. From high overhead, a hovering kestrel can see the ground below in intricate detail. Birds also have excellent hearing – they can distinguish notes that are far too fast for humans to separate. Some birds such as vultures and albatrosses use their sense of smell to track their food. The raven is a member of the crow family Raven skull Nostril cavity Cranium Ear opening, usually hidden by feathers Eye socket points sideways Bone at base of eye socket supports eye Senses and the skull In birds, the bony plates of the cranium are fused together to form a strong, lightweight case. The eyes are often bigger than the brain, and are held in their sockets by tiny bones attached to the eyeball. Intelligence Like humans, some birds can solve tasks with the help of tools and maintain complex social lives. Parrots are known to mimic many sounds including human speech, while some species of heron use bait such as an insect to catch fish. Some crows can even use twigs as tools to hook insects out of cavities. Snipe skull Opposed eyes for wide-angle vision Long flight wings