Which bird species is known for its sophisticated tool use in the wild?

The bird species known for sophisticated tool use in the wild is the New Caledonian crow.

Native to New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific, this crow uses sticks and plant materials to extract grubs and other prey from holes in wood. It does more than simply pick up a convenient object: wild birds select, trim and shape tools, sometimes making hooked tools from twigs, vines or fern stems. They also cut strips from pandanus leaves, whose naturally barbed edges can help catch prey.

Researchers have found evidence of particularly advanced behavior, including sequential tool use. A crow may use a short stick to retrieve a longer stick, then use the longer one to reach food. Captive birds have even bent garden wire into hooks, demonstrating flexibility when faced with unfamiliar materials.

Other corvids, including ravens and rooks, are also highly intelligent and may use objects as tools. The New Caledonian crow is the canonical answer because its tool manufacture and wild tool-using traditions have been studied especially extensively.