The world is dangerous for birds, with many different predators eager to make an easy meal of any bird they can catch. Fortunately, birds have developed a number of physical and behavioral adaptations to trick predators, giving the birds a better chance to escape and increasing their chances of survival even when predators may be larger and faster than the birds themselves.

Predators That Target Birds

While predators are not discriminatory about their prey and will use any available opportunity to catch their next meal – no matter what that meal may be – birds are at higher risk from certain types of predators.

Some larger predators, such as feral cats, bobcats, foxes and coyotes, will attack birds of all ages, while others, such as snakes, rats, raccoons, weasels, minks and stoats, will raid nests and kill hatchlings and brooding adults, and may also destroy eggs. Raptors and other omnivorous or carnivorous birds such as many corvids will also eat other birds or eggs if they have the opportunity.

In addition to these more familiar predators, other unusual predators may kill birds, such as carnivorous plants, large frogs or even large insects. With so many predators hungry for a feathery feast, birds need to be constantly on guard and use many different defenses to stay safe.

How Birds Trick Predators

Birds use many different techniques to fool predators, discourage attacks or otherwise stay safe. Some of these techniques are adaptations that have evolved in plumage and coloration, while others are behaviors that birds use to evade attacks.

• Camouflage: Many birds have highly developed camouflage plumage patterns, including mottling, spots or streaks that help them blend in with different habitats. The American bittern has a streaked throat, for example, that looks identical to reedy grasses when the bird extends its neck. Heavily mottled plumage, such as many game birds, breaks up birds' outlines and keeps them hidden by making their shapes less distinct. In dimorphic species, females are often less brightly colored so they are more camouflaged on the nest, and after the breeding season, many colorful males molt into less ostentatious plumage so they are better protected during the winter. In addition to feathered camouflage, many eggs have spots or blotches that help camouflage the shells, and birds may even disguise their nests with bits of bark, lichen or other material so it is less visible.
   

• Eyespots: A specialized type of camouflage, eyespots are distinct markings that resemble a pair of eyes but misdirect predators to a different, less vulnerable part of a bird than its head. Eyespots on the tail or wings can help birds evade a more fatal attack, while some birds have eyespots on the back of their head to fool other birds and animals, including predators, that they're being watched.
   
• Vocal Mimicry: Many birds are accomplished mimics and can emulate the sounds of other birds and animals, such as alarm calls that can deter a predator. Some birds can even mimic mechanical noises such as car alarms or cell phone rings, which may startle a predator and avert an attack. Other mimicked sounds include rattlesnake rattles or snake hisses and other sounds from different predators.
   
• Freezing: A postural freeze is behavioral camouflage that many game birds such as grouse and quail rely on. When the birds feel threatened, they will freeze and remain very still until they believe the danger has passed. When still, it is harder to see the birds and their plumage camouflage helps conceal them even more effectively. As part of the freeze, birds may assume a specific posture that can enhance their camouflage, such as crouching low to stay even more hidden.
   
• Distraction Displays: When a predator threatens a nest, many parent birds will perform elaborate distraction displays to lure the predator away. Broken wing displays are the most common, and many birds will pathetically flop on the ground, seemingly in agony, gradually leading a predator away from their nest until the bird makes a miraculous recovery and flies away. Shorebirds are particularly adept at these displays, but many types of birds will use similar tactics to fool predators.
   
• Changing Size: A small bird may seem like an easy target for a predator, but when a bird is larger, it may be too big a mouthful for a predator to attack. Many birds will puff up, hunch their shoulders, droop or spread their wings or spread their tails to visually increase their size and intimidate a predator or territorial intruder. This behavior is often accompanied by other aggressive actions, such as lunging at the intruder or otherwise trying to scare or drive it away.
   
• Migrating Timing: Many passerines that are usually tucked away at night will actually become nocturnal migrants during peak migration periods. While there are several reasons that migrating at night can be beneficial for songbirds, one is safety – because many raptors that prey on smaller birds require thermals for their migration flights, songbirds that migrate at night can avoid the attention of those raptors.

Other Bird Defenses

Even with all the tricks at their disposal, many birds fall victim to predators. Several other defenses can help keep them safe, such as colonial nesting when many different nesting pairs use the same rookery and can work together to spot a predator or another threat. Small birds may join forces to mob a larger bird or other predator and chase them away from the birds' territory, and some birds will even vomit or defecate on predators to dissuade attacks.

Birds have many different ways to fool predators, and by using a variety of techniques, even the smallest bird can successfully evade the largest, cleverest predator and live to fly another day.

Photo – Killdeer "Broken Wing" Distraction Display © Matt Tillett