Hi Richard,
I think you are raising a good question. The answer is probably 'no.'. Many bird photos incorporate flash. Generally I never use flash when shooting wildlife as I don't want to spook the critters. However, most of my pet work does. Now that i think about it, It seems like I make a bit of an irrational distinction...
BTW, a lot of birders use a product called a 'Better Beamer' to extend the reach of their flash.
James