Chartjunk

As with bar charts, pie charts are often graphical representations of a small number of values. For example, a pie chart of the gender of students in a class is only based on a single value, the proportion of males. As a result, there is a temptation to 'enhance' pie charts as 3-dimensional objects — chartjunk.

Resist the temptation — it does not make the data any easier to understand and may indeed be misleading since 3-dimensional pie charts can over-emphasise the categories closest to the viewer.

Kestrel deaths

Small is beautiful

In general, it is better to draw a standard pie chart smaller rather than embellishing it with chartjunk.

Predators and free-range poultry