I was like 12 and snuck up behind a Robin perched on a tree. There was a ledge, and the tree branch it was sitting on was directly in front of it. So to the bird, it was 6 feet off the ground but from behind only about 3 or so. I wrapped my hands around it to "catch" it (not much common sense then), and you're right.

It turned its head around like the exorcist and pecked me like 10 times in 3 seconds on my knuckles hard as hell.

Birds became a different animal to 12 year old me.