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Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by echelon on Sunday November 15, 2026 @02:17PM (#50509764)
As a native speaker, "birdbrain" means stupid.

The term implies something that feels like "dodo" or imbecile.

Corvids and parrots and raptors are remarkably smart, yet not every bird species is. Some are incredibly stupid.

Just think of the "Always Sunny" meme where they call Dee a "bird" all the time. It's meant to mean stupid, amongst other things.

Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by GauntletWizard on Sunday November 15, 2026 @02:36PM (#50509924)
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Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by skupig on Sunday November 15, 2026 @03:11PM (#50510232)
Sure, and you can reach a stupid decision quickly. "Birdbrain" has never had a connotation of being slow to react.
Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by dieselgate on Sunday November 15, 2026 @03:22PM (#50510320)
Some sayings are wrong or half-truth but they stick anyway e.g. "blind as a bat".
Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by al_borland on Sunday November 15, 2026 @03:27PM (#50510356)
The chicken with its head cut off saying extends beyond the south. I grew up hearing it in the Midwest. Since chickens do run around when their heads are cut off, I think anywhere with chickens would end up with this phrase.

The Always Sunny thing is more about her looks. When they call her dumb, they tend to just call her dumb/stupid/etc.

Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by pjmlp on Sunday November 15, 2026 @03:34PM (#50510424)
The chicken tale predates discovey of the new continent.

You will find middle age tales with similar tales.

Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by emmelaich on Sunday November 15, 2026 @04:03PM (#50510730)
Birdbrain can also mean "flighty"; which corresponds to fast (and wrong) decision making.
Re:'Birdbrain' Is a Misnomer. Crows Make Decisions Faster Th... by cyberax on Sunday November 15, 2026 @04:27PM (#50510972)
> Corvids and parrots and raptors are remarkably smart, yet not every bird species is. Some are incredibly stupid.

Raptors are pretty stupid. They don't _need_ to be smart. They're solitary and they are typically apex predators.

I have a great view out of my window, and I have a family of crows living nearby. They cooperated to drive out owls and eagles that were nesting in a nearby park. Right now it's raining with pretty strong gusty winds and the crows are flying outside, doing pretty crazy aerobatics. They are clearly having a lot of fun!

I have never seen pigeons or seagulls do that.