A flurry of two birds flew into my house. The crows outside were flying around going crazy so I thought one was a crow and wanted to get it out of the house quickly. When I looked I found only a small raptor I couldn’t identify and tried to “show him the door” which wasn’t easy. By the time he was near the exit our cat suddenly appeared and tried to pounce on him. The bird immediately fell on its back, tail feathers spread in a fan, totally motionless. I tried to shoo away the cat who was also confused and ran away only after I threw a shoe at him. All this time the crows outside were still screaming. I tried to move the bird pushing a carpet and then took a squeegee to push him over, and he hopped up so fast and flew away I couldn’t tell in what direction but the crows immediately calmed down.
Much later the little dove that had sought refuge in my house appeared and I helped her out.
So yes, most definitely some birds are masters at playing dead!!
y