Have you ever wondered why birds puff out their necks when they’re scared or threatened? What about other methods birds use to defend themselves against predators? In this article, we’ll discuss why birds puff out their necks, a few species that exhibit this behavior, and other unique defensive behaviors in birds.
Why Do Birds Puff Out Their Necks?
Birds puff out their necks or chests for several reasons, including self-defense. When a bird feels threatened, they may puff out their feathers and neck and stand as tall as possible, making themselves appear bigger than they are. They might also stretch out their wings, showing off their wingspan.
The hope is that this is enough to scare the predator away. In nature, animals (especially prey animals) are typically looking to avoid a fight. Most birds will try acting scary or even fleeing the scene before they initiate physical contact, especially with an animal larger than themselves.
Birds may also puff out their necks as a courtship behavior when trying to attract a mate, to help them stay warm in the cold, to communicate with other birds and establish a hierarchy, and more. Neck puffing can also mean that a bird is sick, especially if they stay puffed up for an extended period.
Birds That Puff Their Necks in Defense
Many bird species will puff out their necks in defense. This may involve puffing out their neck feathers or their gular pouch. The gular pouch is a part of some bird species’ throats and consists of expandable, featherless, sometimes colorful skin.
Below are a few examples of birds that display this type of defense. We’ll also discuss other causes for neck puffing and other defense mechanisms they may display when threatened.
Frigatebird
Male frigatebirds are black with red chests which they puff up and use as a drum, beating their beaks against it to attract females. They may also puff up when threatened or show more hostile acts of aggression, such as lashing out with their beaks or talons, lunging, or snapping their beaks threateningly.
Grouse
Male grouse puff up their necks to impress the ladies, but it’s also a sign for other males to stay away. They have long neck feathers that fan out around their head when puffed. Grouse may also show off their tail or wing feathers to look larger.
Pigeons
Pigeons are actually selectively bred to have puffier necks. But, if a pet pigeon’s neck is puffed up more than usual, it’s usually a sign of illness. It can also mean that they’re being kept in the cold and need a warmer environment.
Of course, pigeons can also puff out their necks in defense if they’re feeling threatened. This should end once the threat has gone away.
Bird of Paradise
Birds of paradise may puff out their chests, spread their wings, and fan out their feathers above their heads to deter predators. These birds take on unique shapes when their feathers are all fanned out and perform elaborate courtship dances.
Sandpiper
Male sandpipers inflate their chest sacs when they’re feeling threatened. They may also fly with their necks puffed out and hoot when looking for a mate.
Other defensive behaviors in sandpipers include pretending to be injured in order to lure predators away from their chicks. They’re also quite territorial birds, and males may directly attack other males of similar or smaller size.
Other Defensive Behaviors in Birds
Neck puffing isn’t the only defense mechanism that birds have under their wings! Some other unique defensive behaviors in birds include:
Puffing Out Feathers and Spreading Wings
Like neck puffing, puffing out their feathers and spreading their wings wide are a bird’s way of appearing larger and more threatening. This may deter predators and other threats, causing them to back down so that the bird doesn’t have to fight them directly.
Playing Sick, Injured, or Dead
Birds may pretend to be sick or injured to protect their nests or offspring. This lures predators away from the chicks and to the parent bird, who acts as easy prey. On the flip side, birds may act sick or dead to deter predators that prefer to eat healthy, living prey since it reduces their risk of disease.
Lunging and Beak Snapping
Usually, animals will go out of their way to avoid fights–especially with predators! Lunging and beak snapping are more forwardly aggressive behaviors in birds, most commonly seen when they’re facing a direct threat they cannot flee from or when their nest or chicks are threatened.
Even in these cases, birds are typically hoping that the other animal will back down and leave them alone.
Loud Vocalizations
Birds may call out to their flocks to warn them of danger. They may also scream, hiss, or growl in an attempt to scare away a threat.
Typically, a bird that feels threatened will be quite loud, and they may not stop vocalizing until the threat goes away. For instance, you may have had a bird yell at you if you move too close to a tree that they’ve built a nest in or heard birds in your neighborhood screeching at outdoor cats.
Vomiting
Turkey vultures and some other bird species vomit in self-defense. This must be one of the most unique methods birds have to scare off predators–and the grossest!
These vomiting birds have strong stomach acid that helps them digest rotten food without the risk of disease. It’s also pretty nasty and makes a great deterrent to predators.
Dive Bombing
A very angry bird may dive bomb a predator or perceived threat, tackling them from above and targeting them with their beak or claws. This behavior isn’t as common in birds, as they’ll typically try to avoid fighting directly, especially with larger animals.
Birds are most likely to react this way if another animal (or even a human!) comes too close to their nest or their offspring. Some birds will also chase others through the air, diving and pecking at them to run them off of their nesting site.
