On the correlation of brain size and problem-solving behavior of ring doves and pigeons

The behavior of 12 adult ring doves [a small-brained species of Columbidae] was compared with that of 12 adult pigeons [a large-brained species of Columbidae] in a detour problem to see if Rensch's hypothesis of increased brain size being correlated with increased capability can be extended to a perceptual problem-solving task. Three detour dependent variables were intercorrelated with seven gross brain indices obtained from each bird. There were no species differences in terms of detour behavior, and no correlational trends of brain-behavior relationships were discernible. It was concluded that Rensch's hypothesis may not be generalizable to all types of behavior capabilities.