(Web Desk) - A study has revealed that birds living in urban areas appear to be more frightened by women than men, leading them to fly away sooner when approached by females.
The research, published in December 2025 in the journal People and Nature, examined 37 species of birds found in cities across five European countries.
Researchers observed how close humans could get to birds before they decided to flee. The findings showed that birds generally flew away earlier when approached by women compared to men.
According to the study, male participants were able to get nearly one metre closer to the birds on average before the animals reacted and flew off.
The research suggests that birds may be capable of distinguishing between human genders, although scientists say the exact reasons behind the different reactions remain unclear.
John Marzluff, a professor at the University of Washington, said the findings were still preliminary.
“Although birds are capable of recognising humans, the scientific explanation behind their gender-based responses has not yet been fully understood,” he said.