Urban birds are more afraid of women than men, study finds

A study carried out in five European countries revealed that urban birds perceive risk differently depending on the sex of the human observer.

The research, published in the scientific journal People and Nature, indicates that, in general, birds tend to flee sooner when a woman approaches, compared to when a man approaches.

Difference in escape distance
The researchers used the flight initiation distance metric, which measures the space between the observer and the animal at the moment it decides to escape.

On average, birds maintained a safe distance about one meter greater for females than for males.

This pattern was consistent across all populations analyzed in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and Spain.

To ensure the accuracy of the data, the study controlled variables such as the height of the researchers and the color of their clothing. 37 different species were analyzed in environments such as parks and green areas.

In addition to the reaction to human sex, scientists have noticed that male birds are often more tolerant of human presence than females of the same species.

Causes still under study
Although the behavior has been clearly identified, the exact causes are still unknown.

Hypotheses suggest that birds can detect subtle differences in movement pattern, odor or external morphological characteristics.

Another theoretical possibility raises the question of whether, historically, women could have focused hunting on smaller prey, such as birds, generating an adaptive response in these animals.

Source: CNN