If you have a fear of getting swooped by magpies, mobbed by seagulls or blinded by crows, perhaps Alfred Hitchcock is to blame.

His 1963 horror classic The Birds created a generation of ornithophobes, and played on our fears of death by feathered fiend. 

But how accurate are his creepy corvids? Do birds of a feather flock together exclusively? Can a bird go all 'Here's Johnny' on a locked door? Do birds hold grudges?

Dr Ann Jones gets a bird's eye view of Hollywood's avian lies.

Featuring:

• David Stratton, Australian film critic
• Associate Professor Lucy Aplin, Research School of Biology at the Australian National University
• Dr Corrie Ackland, clinical psychologist, Sydney Phobia Clinic 
• The Birds (1963), Universal Pictures

Further reading:

• Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone, Cornell University

Production:

• Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
• Rebecca McLaren, Producer
• Nat Tencic, Producer
• Isabella Tropiano, additional mastering

This episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the lands of the Wadawarrung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Taungurung, and Kaurna people.

If you want to hear more "What the Duck?" episodes- please like and subscribe here.