The image of a bull charging a matador’s vibrant red cape is deeply ingrained in popular culture, suggesting the color red itself infuriates these powerful animals. However, this common belief does not align with scientific understanding of bull vision and behavior. This article explores the biological realities behind this enduring misconception.
Understanding Bull Vision
Bulls, like most other mammals, possess dichromatic vision, meaning their eyes contain only two types of cone cells for color perception. This differs significantly from humans, who are trichromats with three types of cone cells, allowing us to see a broad spectrum of colors. Consequently, bulls primarily perceive colors in the blue and yellow/green spectrums.
The color red, vivid to human eyes, is outside the range bulls can discern. To a bull, the infamous red cape likely appears as a shade of gray, brown, or yellowish-gray. Their vision is comparable to red-green colorblindness in humans, meaning the color red itself is not a trigger for aggression.
What Really Provokes a Bull
A bull’s aggressive reaction stems primarily from movement, not color. Rapid or erratic movements, such as a flapping cape, capture their attention and provoke a charge. Bulls are naturally reactive to perceived threats and invasions of their personal space, driven by instinct to defend their domain.
Beyond movement, other factors contribute to a bull’s aggression. Fear, pain, illness, or improper handling can make a bull agitated and prone to charging. Hormonal changes, particularly during mating season, can also heighten aggressive tendencies. Experiments, like those by MythBusters, show bulls respond with equal intensity to capes of any color—red, white, or blue—as long as they are moved.
The Tradition of the Red Cape
The traditional use of a red cape, known as a muleta, in bullfighting serves purposes unrelated to the animal’s vision. The red color is primarily for the audience, enhancing the visual spectacle and drama. It creates a striking contrast against the arena and the matador’s attire, contributing to the overall aesthetic.
A practical reason for the red hue is its ability to mask bloodstains that may appear during the fight, helping maintain the event’s visual appeal for spectators. The muleta is typically introduced in the final stage of a bullfight, following other capes of various colors like magenta or yellow, which also provoke the bull through movement. Ultimately, the bull’s charge is a reaction to the matador’s skillful manipulation and the cape’s movement, not its iconic color.