[mattjones]

I don't think "self-aware" is the right way to summarize the results of these tests. One thing that this article doesn't say is that the mirror test is geared toward animals with good vision systems, and therefore is, to a large extent, testing spacial reasoning and visual acuity. Birds have great vision systems. It's necessary for flight, and also for picking out specks of food from a distance. A lot of mammals that are quite intelligent have poor vision -- like mustelids, for instance. The mirror test would make little sense for them.

There are other ways to be aware of your self besides through some complex optical phenomenon. For example, an animal might be aware of whether it can fit through that hole, jump up to that ledge, kill that enemy, or stand on that branch without breaking it. It might be aware of whether other creatures are able to see it inside its hideout, or if its cubs are hurt by its bite. "Self" is a rather broad and subtle thing.