Why do birds display different levels of fear?

wizzo · #1 (**permalink**) 17-01-2010, 09:39 AM

It recently occured to me, when out trying to photograph a Robin, just how relatively un-afraid these birds are. It got me thinking as to why some birds are very timid and others like the Robin and Pied Wagtail seem almost dismissive of humans - up to a point at least. I understand that even a single Fieldfare, will show no fear at all to humans when it thinks it's food source is threatened. Do you think that birds such as Woodies and Crows have developed a fear, based on them being constantly shot at by farmers? I was wondering if anyone has an opinion/theory on this? Wizzo

Dave66 · #2 (**permalink**) 17-01-2010, 10:29 AM

Hi Wizzo
I think its down to what they are taught and there own experiences. I live in Argyll and we have a lot of hooded crows. If your in a town they will happily fly over your head no more than 20 - 30 feet above you. If your out in the fields and a hooded crow fly's over your head, even if its 60 feet above you, all you have to do is raise your arm and it immediately swerves away. I presume this is becuase they are used to been shot at over farm land but know they don't get bothered by people in the town.

Just my thoughts, i may be wrong.

Dave.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-01-2010, 01:15 PM

I think birds learn where fear is appropriate, so where they are regularly hunted/persecuted they learn to fear.

In city parks Wood Pigeons walk amongst your feet + I've seen them on people's hands like Feral Pigeons in a couple of places. Where they are shot they are a wary bird.

Similarly doing my wildfowl counts today there are large numbers of Teal feeding at the water's edge as many people walk past on the towpath or cycle, dog walk, etc + rowing boats regularly pass only a couple of metres from them. They realise there is no threat here; go to a place where Teal are a quarry species they soon fly up.

Robins on the continent tend to be shy, elusive species, so different to the behaviour of our birds.

In the recent extreme weather many birds became less wary to conserve energy + to just carry on feeding to survive.