The common belief that bulls become enraged at the sight of the color red has more to do with myth than reality. In truth, bulls, alongside their fellow bovine species, have limited color vision. Research indicates that cattle are dichromatic, meaning they can predominantly distinguish between blue and yellow wavelengths but have difficulty perceiving the red spectrum. The misconception likely originated from the tradition of bullfighting, where matadors use a red cape, or muleta, to manipulate the movements of the bull.
The real reason bulls seem to attack the cape has little to do with its color and much more to do with its movement. Bulls, like many animals, are more likely to charge at moving objects regardless of their color. This response is not out of anger but rather an instinctive reaction possibly linked to the bull’s perception of a threat or challenge. The waving of the cape stimulates the bull's senses and prompts it to charge, making color irrelevant in this aspect.
The perpetuation of the myth is largely due to cultural representation and the dramatic visual of red against the backdrop of a bullfighting arena, which metaphorically symbolizes blood and danger. However, in reality, if a matador were to wave a cape of any color with similar vigor, the reaction from the bull would likely be the same. This misconception serves as a reminder of how cultural practices can often overshadow scientific reality, leading to widespread myths that persist through generations.
