Can Birds Smell?
Feature photo: Andrea Izzotti/Vecteezy
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Contents
Birds: famous for their vision, not exactly for their noses. But the idea that birds can’t smell? We’re underestimating them.
Turns out, most birds can smell. Some of them can actually smell very well. They just don't always flaunt it the way a dog or a bloodhound might.The nuance? That's where things get juicy (and surprisingly scented). Let’s take a closer look.
How Does a Bird’s Sense of Smell Work?
Okay, science time (but let’s make it digestible).
Birds smell using their olfactory system, just like we do. The size and structure of this system, however, varies wildly between species. Some have tiny olfactory bulbs (the brain region responsible for processing scent), while others have... well, shockingly large ones. Like, proportionally bigger than a human's.
In general, the bigger the bulb, the stronger the sense of smell. And before you ask: yes, someone out there has measured olfactory bulbs in hundreds of bird skulls. You’re welcome.
Birds Known for Their Strong Sense of Smell
If birds had a Smell Olympics, turkey vultures would win gold, no contest. These guys can detect the scent of decaying meat from over a mile away. It’s not glamorous, but it is impressive (and kind of scary, tbh?)
Kiwis, those flightless, nocturnal weirdos of New Zealand, also have an excellent sense of smell. They use it to sniff out insects and worms underground, which is kind of incredible when you remember they basically live in a leaf-covered blindfold.
And let’s not forget petrels and shearwaters (aka the tube-nosed seabirds). These ocean wanderers use scent to locate food on the open sea and to find their nesting colonies, sometimes on tiny islands in the middle of nowhere. If you’ve ever struggled to find your car in a parking lot, this should humble you.
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Can Birds Smell Food?
Yes! Some species rely on visual cues first (think hawks spotting prey from above), but others absolutely use their noses. Vultures track the scent of carrion. Honeyguides in Africa use smell to locate beeswax and honey. Kiwis (yep, them again) literally sniff out prey below the surface.
And it’s not just meat. Certain frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds are drawn to the scent of ripe fruit, much like we are. Except they don't post about it on Instagram.
What Other Things Do Birds Use Smell For?
Photo: Pijarn Jangsawang/Vecteezy
Glad you asked. Because birds are out here doing olfactory things humans rarely give them credit for.
- Navigation: Pigeons (yes, the ones you avoid eye contact with downtown) use smell to map their environment. Scientists have found that altering the scents they rely on can literally mess with their sense of direction.
- Mate choice: Some species (like the dark-eyed junco) may use scent cues to size up a potential partner’s health or genetic compatibility. It’s basically Tinder, but with pheromones.
- Nesting behavior: Some seabirds use scent to locate their exact nest among thousands. If you’ve ever walked into the wrong Airbnb because it looked exactly like the one next door... you get the idea.
Birds with Weak or Limited Sense of Smell
That said, not every bird is out there sniffing like a pro.
Songbirds, including many of your backyard regulars like robins or finches, tend to have a much less developed sense of smell. It’s not non-existent—more like... background noise. They're visual creatures first and foremost.
Raptors like hawks and eagles? Also more about sight. When you can spot a mouse blinking from 500 feet in the air, you don’t really need to smell it too.
But even these birds have some olfactory function. The idea that any bird is totally anosmic (aka no sense of smell) is mostly myth at this point.
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Fascinating Facts About Bird Smell
- Some penguins can recognize their mate by smell alone. Which is... adorable and efficient.
- Vultures were once used to detect gas leaks. Long story, but yes, it worked.
- Crested auklets give off a citrusy scent that researchers think may play a role in mating.
- The hoatzin (aka "stinkbird") of South America smells like cow manure. Why? Fermented vegetation in its gut. Love that for them.
- Birds use smell to avoid parasites and spoiled food—some can even detect the scent of sick nestlings and adjust their care accordingly.
Final Thoughts
So... can birds smell? Absolutely. Some better than us. Others, barely. But the myth of the scentless bird is officially busted.
And if all this talk of smelly birds has you thinking, "Wow, I need to show someone how obsessed I am with this stuff," we’ve got you covered. Check out our curated gift ideas for bird fans — perfect for you or the bird nerd in your life.
(Just, you know, maybe leave out the hoatzin cologne.)
