As bird enthusiasts, we can’t help but to see a bit of ourselves in our favorite wildlife.
This got us thinking….do some North Carolina birds actually resemble human personalities strikingly well? If birds were humans, what kinds of humans would they be?
Which brings us to: Birds as Enneagram Types!
Perhaps you’ve heard of the ancient personality model called the Enneagram. The way it works is each of us is primarily driven by one of nine core motivations, often unconsciously. This creates our Enneagram type, or one of nine ways we approach the world based on our core motivation.
Rather than diving into each of the motivations, here are some simplified definitions of each type.
THE REFORMER: strong sense of right & wrong; moral & ethical; perfectionistic
THE HELPER: warm & empathetic; generous; ‘people’ people
THE ACIEVER: success-oriented; ambitious; image-conscious
THE INDIVIDUALIST: self-aware; creative & expressive; suffers from melancholy
THE INVESTIGATOR: independent & reserved; intellectual; has firm boundaries
THE LOYALIST: security-oriented; prepared for the worst; trustworthy & hardworking
THE ENTHUSIAST: optimistic; seeks novelty; high-energy
THE CHALLENGER: seeks to dominate environment; strong 7 assertive; resists weakness
THE PEACEMAKER: easy-going; harmony-seeking; desires to blend in
High-energy. Perfectionistic. Resists weakness….Do these remind you of any birds you know and love?
We have some thoughts.
Birds may not be people, but with some silly suspension of belief, we’ve chalked up some birds’ quirky behaviors as traits that resemble human personalities. Using that, we made our own bird-specific interpretations for each of the types:
An orderly bird that has lots of focus and structured behaviors
A friendly, magnanimous bird, one that seems to value relationships
An impressive bird that has many talents, one that presents itself well
A unique bird, one that has struggles in life, but also an expressive side
A reserved bird, one that may be hard to spot or get close to
A competent bird that seems to be well prepared for challenges
An active bird, one that seems to be living life to the fullest
A fierce and intimidating bird, one other birds wouldn’t want to cross
A bird that’s shy and quiet, but will stand its ground when needed
So with this in mind, after some playful research, here’s what we’re thinking:
Osprey as Type 1: Ospreys are the epitome of focus! They are precise anglers, even orienting their fish the same way each time they catch one. They are also dutiful and orderly in their migrating and mating behaviors, trekking an impressive number of miles and often returning to the same nests year after year. Yes, of all birds we considered, Ospreys were the best representation of the responsible, structured Type 1!
Redhead as Type 2: One fact about Redheads really sold us on them being the perfect Type 2: They’re so social, they’ve been known to approach decoy waterfowl to say hello! Like 2s, Redheads appear to be aware of the importance of good presentation (look at how beautiful they are!) They also reflect the 2’s focus on relationships, as they form bonds with their mates quite early and also like to forage with lots of other waterfowl.
Brown Thrasher as Type 3: Who else to represent the successful Type 3 than the most impressive mimic of all? Brown Thrashers have over 1,000 songs in their repertoire, and they sing them loud and proud! They seem to excel in anything they put their minds to, even fledging; they’re known to leave the nest earlier than most songbirds. They can be feisty when needed, something that reminds us of the tenacity of the 3.
Wood Thrush as Type 4: Ah the wonderful song of the Wood Thrush. It’s like you’re peering into their hearts, and this reminds us of the graceful expressiveness of the Type 4! They’re also major victims of brood parasitism, resembling the frequent emotional turmoil most 4s experience. And, like 4s, Wood Thrushes are also more introverted and can be kept-to-themselves.
Eastern Whippoorwill as Type 5: Easy to hear, extremely difficult to see. Who’s a better representation of the reserved but intellectual 5 than Eastern Whippoorwills? You can hear what they have to say, but don’t try to get to close (you likely won’t be able to break their boundaries to see them!) Many of their behaviors remind us of the tactical 5, including how they align their egg laying with the moon phases so they can feed their young under the light of the mood.
Yellow Warbler as Type 6: Yellow Warblers exemplify loyalty, preparedness, and stability, all qualities associated with Type 6. They have a contingency plan for EVERYTHING, at least it seems like it in the way they outsmart brood parasites by simply building a new nest over an infected nest. From their sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet call to their tendency towards monogamy, they sure do seem like loving, loyal partners!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet as Type 7: What’s the biggest reason we picked the Kinglet for Type 7? They never stop moving. NEVER, much like the adventurous 7 that excitedly moves from one new adventure to another. From their powerfully loud song to their impressive clutch size (yes, they lay 12 eggs at once!) these guys remind us of the zest for living life to the fullest that 7s have.
Loggerhead Shrike as Type 8: Who’s the fiercest bird per-square-inch of all? The Loggerhead Shrike of course! They, like Type 8, seem to resist weakness and dominate in their endeavors. Don’t let their size fool you. Sometimes referred to as “butcherbirds”, Loggerhead Shrikes have hooked bills for their carnivorous needs and have been known to impale prey on wire fences. Their diet includes small rodents and even other birds. Anyone else wildly intimidated?
Piping Plover as Type 9: “Nearly invisible until they… pull an insect or worm from the soft sand.” This is the primary characteristic that solidifies Piping Plover as the perfect rep for the chameleon-like 9 who adapts to others and refrains from taking the spotlight. If they were humans, they too would enjoy peace, we conclude due to their nesting habits. And, like 9s, they are docile until ticked off. A Piping Plover will fiercely attack if an intruder if it enters its nesting territory!
Now, that’s not all. We have much more to say about why each of these birds represent these Enneagram Types. That’s we did a series on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter highlighting each of these birds! Read more about each:
Note that this is all in the spirit of honoring the delightful mystery of birds, so we hope you find this playful categorization enjoyable and fun. Whether Type 1, Type 5, or Type 2, lets appreciate the variety in all these species, from the elusive singers, to the fierce hunters, to the incomparable mimics!
