#6: Bird Behavior
The false belief that birds will disown or abandon their young if you touch them is a widespread myth rooted in superstition and a lack of basic understanding of, well, birds. In reality, most birds have a limited sense of smell and are not capable of detecting human scent on their chicks. The myth likely originated from a desire to protect young birds and wildlife from any human interference.
While it’s true that handling baby birds can be stressful for them and should generally be avoided, the idea that a parent bird would disown their offspring due to human contact is biologically unfounded. Birds typically recognize their young through visual and auditory cues, and they remain committed to caring for and feeding their chicks until they are ready to fledge.