Recently, my daughter discovered a nest with baby birds in our church's parking lot. She placed a traffic cone nearby so no one would run over the nest.  

The next Sunday, I went over to check on the mother bird and her little ones.  Mama bird trilled loudly as I approached and then began waddling away dragging one wing as if it were injured.  This is common behavior for birds protecting their young; diverting a predator by pretending to be easier prey themselves.  

When I continued to get closer to the nest, Mama immediately flew to land between her babies and myself and began puffing herself up to look bigger and calling out even more shrilly than before.  I stopped and then left before Mama actually attacked me.

This got me thinking about people.  

I wonder how often wounded behavior is a distraction from something they don't want you to get close to?  

And how often does anger and posturing mask fear and vulnerability?