What would you call this concept?

A number of games use flocks of birds to indicate where the player should go. Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Mirror's Edge, I think some of the Prince of Persia games did, and so on. It's a subtle way to guide the player. Maybe there is a psychological or design term for it. Anyone have any thoughts?

Environmental cues? No idea really, but there is a distinction between-in world visuals vs. artificial glowing colors, outlines, arrows, etc. Being bird-based might be a bit specific.

I'd go with environmental cues. Cthulhu Saves the World does something similar with torches.

Flocking birds!

Maybe Environmental Cues is the right term (if a bit broad) but other than this and natural lighting what other environmental cues are there?

Edit: If we do go with environmental cues than something bird related should be an alias so that people who notice all these birds in their adventure games can find it when they put bird in the search.

You could create both concepts - Environmental Cues and Birds as Environmental Cues.

Also, did this really happen in Mirror's Edge? Maybe I'm a little unobservant/forgetful D:

@BeachThunder: I turned off the runner vision my first time through the game since I didn't want the game shoving in my face where I should go. Since I wasn't looking at red lines everywhere I probably noticed the rest of the environment more. Did you notice the rat (named November) or the Mirror's Edge signs anywhere there is a path to a hidden bag? Those were other subtle things to show where the player might want to explore.

A number of games use flocks of birds to indicate where the player should go. Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Mirror's Edge, I think some of the Prince of Persia games did, and so on. It's a subtle way to guide the player. Maybe there is a psychological or design term for it. Anyone have any thoughts?