Optical illusions in birding

As if birders aren't hard enough to identify, we also need to be aware of the optical illusions that can throw us our perceptions of size, color, distance, or even if what we are looking at is even a bird! This video attempts to break down the common illusions you should be aware of.

0:00 Intro
0:32 Moon Illusion
1:16 Emmert's Law
2:46 Ebbinghaus Illusion (typo in video)
4:01 Delboeuf Illusion
4:55 Irradiation Illusion
6:46 Pareidolia

[navinviswanathan]

The worst is when I fail to look closely because it is a "leaf" and it flies away... Happier chasing leaves and plastic bags :)

[falcoperegrinus]

I once saw a leaf that looked like a Golden-cheeked Warbler to an insane degree. It was crazy, will never forget it.

[Monheganer]

Reminds me of design class for art and photography. And how knowing we can still be tricked. Cool.

[ecurewitz]

That’s not a bittern, it’s a tree trunk in the beaver pond

[andrewturner]

I'm a professional plastic bag ID'er

[RoyceMarcus]

I stop for plastic bags that look like birds.

[MCoyne]

Enough about biases and illusions, could you just approve my pterodactyl sighting?

[hgwells]

Eagle counting on the Mississippi in January... who knew squirrel nests with snow on top looked so much like Bald eagles?