Close Menu Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Biology A small but consistent difference in how birds respond to approaching humans hints at hidden cues shaping animal behavior. An international team of scientists has uncovered an unexpected pattern in how city birds respond to people. Species such as great tits, house sparrows, and blackbirds tend to take flight sooner when approached by women than by men. The researchers say the finding is clear, but the reason behind it is still unknown. The study took place in five European countries and involved male and female participants (matched for height and clothing) walking directly toward birds in parks and other urban green spaces. By measuring how close a person could get before a bird flew away, the team assessed what is known as flight initiation distance. On average, men were able to get about one meter (3.3 feet) closer than women before the birds took off. This pattern appeared consistently across all study locations, including Czechia, France, Germany, Poland, and Spain. It also held true across 37 species, from cautious birds like magpies to more tolerant ones such as pigeons.
Published: April 30, 2026 2:55 pm
Source: SciTechDaily — Read original