what animals have a specific instinct like birds flying south?
85732
salmon spawn (swim to the sea and back)
65882
Humming bird  flies in both the directions -- backwards as well forward
513168
Birds, Definitely. birds, being warm blooded, are much closer to mammals than amphibians. Amphibians only show the faintest glimmer of an R-Complex, known in your brain as a cerebellum - the reptilian part of the brain. Birds, by contrast, have a highly developed R-complex and even show the beginnings of a cerebrum (the big lumpy part of your brain that handles all that rational though stuff). Can you imagine a frog or a salamander uttering, "Polly wants a cracker?" >:)
948452
Xantus's Hummingbird\nZone-tailed Hawk\nBonaparte's Gull\nCrested Caracara\nDunlin
442824
I think it depends on the type of bird you are talking about and also if the birds are wild or domestic or for that matter used to having humans around.\nLarge birds generally dont scare so easily, especially if they are used to humans. Like parrots for example.\nSome many times I have come across pigeons just crossing the road leisurely even though I'm driving towards it. And some of them dont even fly until I honk at them.\nThe tiny birds generally scare more easily. But when I traveled to London the sparrows actually fed from the palm of my hand. Whereas I have 2 finches at home and although they think they are humans, they just dont let me touch them! LOL! I love them alot!
339482
Technically, there is no such a thing as a "seagull." They're actually just gulls. As a group, they don't live exclusively at, near, in or over the sea. There are some species (like ring-biled gulls) that are more common inland than at the sea. They find their way to large open areas (such as parking lots and school yards) by flying over them. You can see a lot of land from that height, so it's not hard to pick out nice spots to hang. They are not confused into thinking it's water, they just know by now that large parking lots are good eatin'.
506259
white pelican flies\nacross the black moonlit sky\na beautiful bird
707873
cheeper, chick, squealer\ncocks \nhens\nbevy, covey, drift \nquail typically live in grasslands, mostly in the northern hemisphere.
679764
My pet Emu -Larry- says you are mistaken. In reality birds do not fly. See, you were outside, enjoying a lovely day when you stumbled upon a group of kids playing in the park. What you saw was nothing more than a fowl ball.
498385
There was a large bird said to travel along the front edge of storms.  The Mississippi people told tales that came down thur other tribes.  Also there were early white settlers that told of a large bird that would carry away sheep and other livestock.  A southern tribe tells a story of large birds that would carry children off and how the warriors went and killed them all to protect their families
335228
chickens fly, in key west they are always up in the trees, peacocks because the plumage is too heavy and penguins because the wings have evolved into fins
556670
A bird, from ancient mthology. It's also a constellation in the southern hemisphere.
443731
instincts...just like how animals know how to reproduce.
796385
You Gotta Be Kidding Me Buddy...\n\nWinter is not an easy time for birds. Not all of them are genetically programmed to head south for the duration. Imagine if you had to stay outside in freezing weather the entire winter! A bird-friendly habitat may make the difference to their survival.\n\nThe birds that visit your neighborhood vary with the seasons-not only the species, but also the individuals. Some species, such as downy woodpeckers, may be year-round residents. Others-dark-eyed juncos and ruddy ducks for example, are winter visitors. You will see hummingbirds only from late spring until early fall. Species such as rose-breasted grosbeaks may visit only during spring and fall migration. Robins may migrate only a few miles, and return temporarily if the weather becomes milder.\n\nMany birds flock together for survival in the winter. The ones that seem to be most noticeable are starlings and crows. Starlings may gather by the thousands. Once they have flocked, breaking up the flock may mean death to many of its members. Practice and teach tolerance. The most effective way to prevent flocking is to change the habitat, but this should be done in the warm season.\n\nglycerin and antifreeze will kill birds!!!
882035
There are some great shots of many types of birds in flight (including some sequences, if you click a selected bird) located at: http://www.astronomy-images.com/day-images/California/Birds/flight_of_birds.htm
758771
The animal instinct...
610952
Birds hear a lot better than we do, and worms moving around in soil make noise that is distinctive. OR, maybe they have Xray vision! :-)