Which of the following best describes anxiety?

Anxiety is best described as a response to a poorly defined or unknown threat. In the context of avian behavior and veterinary practice, anxiety arises when an animal perceives a potential threat that is vague or not directly identifiable. This response can manifest through various signs such as vocalizations, feather plucking, or changes in eating habits, reflecting the bird’s internal state of unease.

While emotional responses play a role in anxiety, it encompasses more than just feelings; it involves physiological and behavioral reactions to anticipated dangers that are uncertain rather than clear threats. For example, a bird may react anxiously to unfamiliar environments or stimuli, even if no explicit danger exists. Therefore, the defining characteristic of anxiety is its association with ambiguity, making it distinct from fear, which is typically a response to a specific and identifiable threat.