Magic Tricks May Fool You, but These Birds Can See Through Them
A small experiment using sleights of hand and illusions offers insights into how birds and people perceive the world.
Video
Homer the Eurasian jay was not gulled by the palm transfer. Video by Alexandra Schnell/University of Cambridge
June 1, 2021, 11:34 a.m. ET
The coin is in the illusionist’s left hand, now it’s in the right or is it? Sleight of hand tricks are old standbys for magicians, street performers and people who’ve had a little too much to drink at parties.
On humans, the deceptions work pretty well. But it turns out that birds don’t always fall for the same illusions.