Demystifying Phobias: 15 Fearful Situations and How to Overcome Them

8. Ornithophobia

Birds can be terrifying for someone with ornithophobia, and not just birds of prey like hawks and eagles. Seeing the shadows of tiny sparrows or finches can send a person who suffers from ornithophobia running to escape, despite the relative lack of harm that these birds can do. Some research suggests that the fear of birds ties into self-preservation instincts leftover from the caveman era, when birds were much more common predators. People with ornithophobia often describe a fear of wings, claws or beaks, and even thinking about birds can make them cringe in fear. Being too close to a bird can bring on a panic attack and intense feelings of fear.