Tolkien's Middle Earth contained a number of intelligent bird species, mostly those that had been exposed to high-level magic (or were Maia in disguise) rather than as a result of normal evolution.

**Ravens**  
> The [intelligent ravens of Ravenhill][1] near Erebor, could live to a great
> age and some could even speak Westron.  
>
> They are reputedly the messengers of the Vala Mandos

**Hawks**  
> Spirits [in the shapes of hawks and eagles][2] were the servants of Manwë
> Súlimo, continually flying over Middle-earth to gather information for
> their master. Above many flocks of crebain, Aragorn noticed hawks,
> flying high in the sky, during the War of the Ring.




  [1]: http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Ravens#cite_note-3
  [2]: http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Hawks