diff --git a/src/game/behaviors/bird.inc.c b/src/game/behaviors/bird.inc.c
index e6d081a48..95f1322d3 100644
--- a/src/game/behaviors/bird.inc.c
+++ b/src/game/behaviors/bird.inc.c
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 static void bird_act_inactive(void) {
     // Start flying if the object is a spawned bird or if it's a spawner bird
     // and Mario is within 2000 units.
-    if (o->oBehParams2ndByte == BIRD_BP_SPAWNED || o->oDistanceToMario < 2000.0f) {
+    struct Object* player = nearest_player_object(o->oPosX, o->oPosY, o->oPosZ);
+    if (o->oBehParams2ndByte == BIRD_BP_SPAWNED || dist_between_objects(o, player) < 2000.0f) {
         // If the object is a spawner bird, play the sound of birds flying away,
         // and spawn 6 spawned birds (which will start flying on the next frame).
         if (o->oBehParams2ndByte != BIRD_BP_SPAWNED) {