Did they use real birds in The Birds?

The birds in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds" were a combination of live animals and special effects. For the close-up shots, Hitchcock used trained live birds, including crows, sparrows, pigeons, starlings, gulls, vultures, ravens, and even seagulls. These birds were often placed on wires or hidden perches and fed to encourage desired behaviors.

For wide shots and flocking scenes, the filmmakers employed various techniques. Some of the birds seen in these sequences were birds manipulated frame-by-frame using stop-motion animation. Additionally, Hitchcock used mechanical birds, puppets, and other visual effects techniques to create the illusion of a vast number of birds attacking human characters.

To enhance the authenticity of the bird attacks, the crew also used props like fake birds made of rubber or fiberglass and real feather fragments. Hitchcock's meticulous attention to detail ultimately resulted in convincing visual effects showcasing menacing avian behavior throughout the film.