Ornithophobia

Ornithophobia is an abnormal and irrational fear of birds, classified as a specific phobia, though the term is also used more loosely for a strong aversion or dislike of birds without full clinical severity. Common triggers reported by sufferers include the sudden fluttering of wings, the texture of feathers, a perceived risk of disease transmission, and the sense that birds, unlike many other animals, show little fear of approaching humans; particular species such as chickens, ducks or pigeons are frequently singled out. Physical symptoms during exposure can include a racing heart, sweating and marked nervousness, along with strong avoidance behavior that, left untreated, can meaningfully limit a person's daily activities and choice of environments. The word derives from the Ancient Greek term for bird combined with the standard suffix for fear, and the phobia has occasionally been reflected in popular culture, including Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film The Birds. As with related specific phobias, gradual exposure-based psychotherapy is the primary treatment approach.