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Distraction display
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Distraction displays, also known as diversionary displays, or paratrepsis[1][2] are anti-predator behaviors used to attract the attention of an enemy away from something, typically the nest or young, that is being protected by a parent.[3][4] Distraction displays are sometimes classified more generically under "nest protection behaviors" along with aggressive displays such as mobbing.[5] These displays have been studied most extensively in bird species,[1] but also have been documented in populations of stickleback fish[6][7][8][9][10] and in some mammal species.[11][12]
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Distraction displays frequently take the form of injury-feigning.[4] However, animals may also imitate the behavior of a small rodent or alternative prey item for the predator;[13][14][15] imitate young[12] or nesting behaviors such as brooding (to cause confusion as to the true location of the nest),[13] mimic foraging behaviors away from the nest,[9] or simply draw attention to oneself.[1]