Adult and Pin Head Eastern Jays Head to Head. Photo: Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Boulder birds or birds elsewhere, I love pics of them “looking” straight at me. But are they really looking at me? Perhaps not! We’re probably anthropomorphizing!  We’re giving them human attributes. 

When a bird appears to be looking at you, sometimes it really is. But often it is actually looking at you sideways.

Eastern Blue Jay taking a “distance assessment” glance at the camera, not looking right at the viewer. Photo: Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Bird vision is different from ours because their eyes are on the sides of their heads rather than facing forward. That placement gives them a huge field of view so they can watch for predators while feeding. Many birds can see nearly all the way around themselves.

Here is the key idea.

Most birds have two main viewing zones:

1. Side vision (monocular vision)
   This is the big one. Each eye sees its own wide area. When a bird turns its head and you see one eye pointed at you, it is almost certainly focusing on you. That sideways stare is actually the sharpest way many birds examine things.

2. Front vision (binocular vision)
   There is a small overlap area in front where both eyes see the same object. This allows depth perception, which is important for catching insects or landing precisely. But that forward overlap is usually much narrower than in humans.

   

   Stellar’s Jay looking at me. Photo Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Because of that geometry, birds often tilt or rotate their heads when inspecting something. They are trying to place the object into the part of their visual field with the highest resolution.

So when a bird cocks its head and looks at you with one eye, it is often doing exactly what you do when you squint or lean closer to examine something. It is putting you in the “high resolution” zone of that eye.

Male Flicker Looking At The Camera. Photo: Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Some interesting exceptions:

Owls and hawks
These predators have forward-facing eyes and much stronger binocular vision. When an owl looks at you, it really is staring at you much more like a human would.

Songbirds (robins, chickadees, sparrows)
They rely heavily on side vision. When they appear to look directly at you, they usually rotate their head slightly so one eye can inspect you carefully.

Eastern Blue Jay NOT looking right at me with its best vision. Photo: Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Ducks and geese
They have extremely wide vision and will often watch you from the side while their head seems pointed somewhere else. So, photographically speaking,when you capture that moment where the bird’s head is slightly turned and one eye is clearly visible, you are actually photographing the moment the bird is focusing on you. That is why those images feel so alive — the viewer subconsciously senses the connection.

Shared Knowledge Is  Power!

Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling    photo coaching underway 720-320-6201. Hone your skills and your  eye!

Lenny Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and widely syndicated blogger and author.
• Most recently published by Amazon, his first book, "Lensworth"a book of his prize-winning photos.
• University lectures at University of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including starring in episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com