BioConcepts

distraction displayVerleiten (ger.)

• Protective behaviour of parents in regard to their offspring intended to distract the enemy by pretending an injury. (HWB)
  category parental care

  c. -350 (BC)

  [Ὅταν δέ τις θηρεύῃ περιπεσὼν τῇ νεοττιᾷ, προκυλινδεῖται ἡ πέρδιξ τοῦ θηρεύοντος ὡς ἐπίληπτος οὖσα, καὶ ἐπισπᾶται ὡς ληψόμενον ἐφ’ ἑαυτήν, ἕως ἂν διαδράσῃ τῶν νεοττῶν ἕκαστος· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἀναπτᾶσα αὐτὴ ἀνακαλεῖται πάλιν. Τίκτει μὲν οὖν ᾠὰ ἡ πέρδιξ οὐκ ἐλάττω ἢ δέκα, πολλάκις δ’ ἑκκαίδεκα. [When one chances upon the nest [of quails and partridges] and goes to catch them, the partridge rolls along in front of the hunter as though easy to catch, and draws him on towards herself as though he is about to catch her, until all the nestlings have scattered; after that she herself flies up and recalls them.]

  Aristotle (c. 350 BC). Historia animalium 613b17-23 [transl. by D.M. Balme 1991].]

  1925

  [injury feigning

  Huxley, J.S. (1925). The absence of courtship in the avocet. Brit. Birds 19, 88-94: 93; Lack, D. (1932). Some breeding habits of the European nightjar. Ibis 2, 266-284: 282; Swarth, H.S. (1935). Injury-feigning in nesting birds. Auk 52, 352-354; Tavernes, P.A. (1936). Injury feigning by birds. Auk 53, 366; Jourdain, F.C.R. (1936-37). The so-called “injury-feigning” by birds. Ool. Rec. 16, 25-37; 17, 14-16, 71-72.]

  1931

  The “distress simulation” consists of a precipitate flushing and rapid flutter over the ground after the nest has been approached closely. […] This reaction […] is probably a culmination of the more frequent distraction display that most birds present when their nests are disturbed.

  Pickwell, G.B. (1931). The Prairie Horned Lark: 139.

  1935

  [Während Stockenten, Rebhühner u.a. bei den Ablenkehandlungen eine Flügelverwundung vortäuschen, die sie am Auffliegen hindert, ahmen Grasmücken und andere Kleinvögel einen allgemein kranken Vogel nachs, sträuben das Gefieder, machen kleine Augen, stolpern beim Hüpfen und fliegen mit dem matten Flügelschlag eines sterbenskranken Tieres.

  Lorenz, K. (1935). Der Kumpan in der Umwelt des Vogels (Über tierisches und menschliches Verhalten, vol. I, München 1965, 115-282): 202.]

  1939

  This method of protection is called “distress simulation” by scientists, and is probably an outcome and elaboration of the distraction display, the simpler method used by “criers.” Nearly all birds that nest on the ground will imitate the injured or crippled in attracting intruders away from their nests.

  Pickwell, G.B. (1939). Birds: 142.

  1946

  Auf den Schrecklaut der Jungen reagieren die Steinwälzer mit Verleiten: die Vögel nähern sich dem Menschen (ein ähnliches Verhalten wurde auch durch einen Hund hervorgerufen), mit halb ausgebreiteten, aber nicht hängenden Flügeln

  Bergman, G. (1946). Der Steinwälzer, Arenaria i. interpres (L.), in seiner Beziehung zur Umwelt (=Acta Zoologica Fennica 47): 121; cf. 101.

  1947

  distraction display

  Armstrong, E.A. (1947). Bird Display and Behaviour: 90.

  1949

  “Injury-feigning” and “distraction display” seem to be the most popular terms, but one notices that naturalists are constantly being forced into explaining the behaviour which they describe as “injury-feigning” bears little or no resemblance to feigning injury. Moreover, it is fairly generally realized that “injury-feigning” carries the sense of purposive deception to an extent beyond that which can be supported by facts.

  Armstrong, E.A. (1949). Diversionary display Part 1. Connotation and terminology. Ibis 91, 88-97: 88.

  1953

  man [kann] das „Verleiten“, jene Instinkthandlung z.B. der Dorngrasmücke, durch die sie den Störenfried von ihrem Nest fortlockt, ein paarmal nacheinander auslösen

  Tinbergen, N. (1953). Instinktlehre: 55.

  1982

  distraction display An elaborate pattern intended to attract the attention of an aggressor away form other more vulnerable members of a group; deflection display; paratrepsis.

  Lincoln, R.J., Boxshall, G.A. & Clark, P.F. (1982). A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics:71.

  1982

  distraction display An elaborate pattern intended to attract the attention of an aggressor away from other more vulnerable members of a group; deflection display; paratrepsis. 

  Lincoln, R.J., Boxshall, G.A. & Clark, P.F. (1982). A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics: 71.