Matching bird idioms to biases and fallacies using the Cognitive Bias Codex as a resource, among others
In Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a mariner shot an albatross. Subsequently, a violent storm plagued the crew, so they blamed the mariner and hung the dead bird around his neck.
Black Swan Theory
The term is based on an ancient saying that presumed all swans were white and therefore black swans did not exist. They were later discovered in Australia.
Canary in the Coal Mine
Canaries used to be carried into mines to indicate whether the level of methane gas was lethal. When they died, the miners would flee. Today’s climate denialists would do well to heed the proverbial canary who has long ago fallen from his perch.
Negative Interpretation Bias
When an acorn falls on her head, Chicken Little (aka Henny Penny) believes the sky is falling. Mass hysteria ensues.
Illusion of Control Bias
An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. They are often given to a person who is seriously ill to wish for their recovery.
The Duck Test
“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” The problem is, sometimes it’s not a duck at all. Abductive reasoning (syllogisms) can yield only probable conclusions, not irrefutable ones.
Fallacy of Consumerism
In many stories and legends, magpies are attracted to shiny objects which they steal and hoard in their nests: an apt metaphor for the modern myth that accumulating wealth will bring happiness.
The Ostrich Effect
”Burying one’s head in the sand” – This metaphor is actually a cognitive bias that describes how people often avoid unwelcome information.
Appeal to Vanity Fallacy
In a western (especially puritanical) context, the peacock is a symbol of vanity, false pride and ego. These qualities make a person vulnerable to flattery.
Gender Stereotyping
This secretary is sexy: all false eyelashes and saloon girl bloomers. But don’t underestimate this beauty – she can kill snakes with her bare hands (feet).