flagging

zoology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

"Flagging" in zoology refers to a visual alarm signal used by mammals. It involves lifting the tail to expose its white underside, typically when an animal is startled and flees. While this action signals danger, biologists debate its precise meaning. Alarm signals can be visual, vocal, or chemical and are crucial for group communication within and sometimes between species. For instance, many birds share similar alarm calls that alert other species to threats. Birds also use distinct alarm calls for different dangers, such as aerial predators versus ground predators.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

alarm signal
…common in mammals, is “flagging,” the lifting of the tail to reveal its white undersurface. The white fur shows only in fright situations when the animal raises its tail as it bounds away. Biologists do not agree about the exact meaning of this common mammalian alarm response. While the…
Read More
…common in mammals, is “flagging,” the lifting of the tail to reveal its white undersurface. The white fur shows only in fright situations when the animal raises its tail as it bounds away. Biologists do not agree about the exact meaning of this common mammalian alarm response. While the…
Read More