Many people believe birds have little to no sense of smell, particularly when considering how they find food like bird seed. This assumption, however, overlooks the nuances of avian biology. This article clarifies how birds typically find their meals, especially the seeds offered in backyard feeders.
The Surprising Truth About Bird Smell
Most birds have some capacity for smell, though the extent varies significantly among species. While the avian olfactory system was historically thought to be poorly developed, modern research indicates all birds possess the anatomical structures for perceiving odors, including an olfactory bulb in their brain. The size of this olfactory bulb, relative to the bird’s forebrain, can indicate the strength of its sense of smell.
For some avian species, smell is a well-developed sense. Turkey Vultures, for instance, locate carrion by detecting the scent of decaying flesh from miles away. Kiwis, flightless birds native to New Zealand, use their highly developed sense of smell, with nostrils at the tip of their long beaks, to find underground prey. Seabirds like petrels and albatrosses use their acute sense of smell to pinpoint food sources across vast stretches of ocean and navigate back to their burrows. Olfaction is indeed present and can be a crucial sense in the avian world.
Do Birds Sniff Out Bird Seed?
While birds can smell, their olfactory sense is not their primary method for locating bird seed. Most common backyard birds, such as sparrows, finches, and chickadees, rely more on other senses to find food. Bird seed typically has a subtle smell that does not travel far, making it unlikely to attract birds from a distance through scent alone.
Experiments show that the sense of smell in most birds is comparable to or less sensitive than that of humans, both having three conchae, the organs involved in olfaction. A bird might only detect the faint odor of seed if it is very close to the feeder. While some research suggests certain songbirds might detect seed oil scents, especially from oilier seeds like sunflower seeds, this is usually not the main factor drawing them to a feeder from a distance.
How Birds Really Find Their Feast
Birds primarily use vision to locate food, including bird seed. They possess keen eyesight, allowing them to spot feeders, other birds, and the seeds from considerable distances. Many birds can see colors, including ultraviolet light, which helps them identify food sources and brightly colored feeders. This visual acuity means birds recognize familiar food sources and return to them regularly once discovered.
Hearing also plays a role in how birds find food. The sounds of other birds feeding, chirping, or the rustle of seeds can alert nearby birds to a food source. Once one bird discovers a feeder, others often follow, a phenomenon known as local enhancement, which rapidly increases feeder visitation. While smell is a sense for some birds in specific contexts, for finding bird seed, vision and hearing are more important.