Penguins are perhaps the most famous gift-givers in the animal world, with male penguins meticulously searching for beautiful pebbles to present to potential mates. These carefully selected stones serve a dual purpose - they act as a courtship ritual and become the foundation for nest building. If the female accepts the pebble, it marks the beginning of their lifelong partnership, with the male repeating this behavior each mating season.

Crows demonstrate an extraordinary and intelligent approach to gift-giving, particularly with humans. In a remarkable case, a young girl named Gabi Mann developed a relationship with local crows by consistently feeding them. In return, the crows began leaving her unique gifts like buttons, screws, earrings, and even a camera lens cap that was carefully washed before being returned. These corvids showcase not just reciprocity but an advanced understanding of social interactions, remembering kindness and responding with thoughtful trinkets.

Bonobos and dolphins represent another fascinating category of gift-givers, extending their generosity beyond immediate social groups. Bonobos uniquely share food with strangers from different groups, motivated by a desire to create new social connections rather than immediate survival or reproductive advantages. Similarly, dolphins have been observed presenting gifts to humans, including sea creatures like octopuses, eels, and tuna. Some researchers speculate that dolphins might even gift food out of concern for human survival, demonstrating a remarkable level of empathy and social intelligence.

Other notable gift-giving animals include great grey shrikes, which bring food gifts during courtship, and Eurasian jays that demonstrate remarkable attentiveness by selecting specific food items their mates prefer. Male great grey shrikes typically offer small animals or crickets to females, while Eurasian jay males carefully choose between moths and worms based on their mate's recent dietary preferences. These behaviors reveal that animal gift-giving is not merely transactional but involves complex social dynamics, relationship building, and a nuanced understanding of individual preferences.