Why do some birds hop?

[Mike Rotch]

Ever noticed that some birds walk - one foot in front of the other -whilst other birds hop along? Why is that?

 

[ShobThaBob]

Cuz they have a positive outlook on life?

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by ShobThaBob
Cuz they have a positive outlook on life?

, yea im sure their pea-brains can distinguish optimism from pessimism

 

[Der Alta]

It all has to do with bone structure.

In sparrows, canaries and similar birds, the feet are parallel to each. This is due to spending more time on the ground, searching for food. The birds move at high speeds between perches.

When you get to larger birds they spend more time moving along branches, and therefore have "pigeon toed" feet. it allows them to move along a single object easier due to the feet being much stronger in that position. They've no need to bounce from point to point in a straight line.

A simple explanation, that I can get more indepth should you have more questions.

And as for pea brains, I've seen a bird disassemble a door lock, simply beacuse it was keeping his cage door shut. It might surprise you at how intelligent they really are. Even the pigeons.

AO

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by Der Alta
It all has to do with bone structure.

In sparrows, canaries and similar birds, the feet are parallel to each. This is due to spending more time on the ground, searching for food. The birds move at high speeds between perches.

When you get to larger birds they spend more time moving along branches, and therefore have "pigeon toed" feet. it allows them to move along a single object easier due to the feet being much stronger in that position. They've no need to bounce from point to point in a straight line.

A simple explanation, that I can get more indepth should you have more questions.

And as for pea brains, I've seen a bird disassemble a door lock, simply beacuse it was keeping his cage door shut. It might surprise you at how intelligent they really are. Even the pigeons.

AO

Thanks for the explaination - the adaptation for different habitat conditions explains it well. You do get some birds though that can hope or run. Here in SA the ones that I have noticed that do this are Starlings, Thrushs and Indian Mynahs. Coincidence or not, they are "tall/upright" birds, rather then "flat" ones like doves/pigeons.

I have no doubt that birds exhibit intelligence. Just try think about how they fly through trees without nailing any branches. They either have lightning fast reactions, or mega-impressive powers of photographic memory to map the position of branches.

Pigeons are very smart - even if they look as thick as planks. Whenever I try vary the times I feed the birds in my garden to give the small ones a chance at some grub, the pigeons rock up and eat everthing.

 

[Der Alta]

I've always referred to Pigeons as "Ghetto Chickens" Mainly because you find them acting like chickens but in the city.

As for intelligence, I have first hand knowledge on how smart they are.

AO

 

[Nigma]

Ghetto chickens

 

[phychosis2]

they probably cant bend their legs or something?

 

[supra229]

No there are two types the ones which can perch and the ones that can't which is to do with the bone structure of their feet.

Pigeons are related to doves.

Pigeons = least favourite
Doves = most favourite

(most people think this way)

Pigeons + Doves = Pigeon family.

 

[milefile]

Death to doves for eating all my grass seed.

 

[Famine]

Because they have read Arnold Rimmer's parents' misprinted copy of the bible (I Corinthians 13).

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Why do some birds hop?

That sounds like a set up for a bad joke.

 

[darklegion_ca]

Originally posted by Der Alta
It all has to do with bone structure.

In sparrows, canaries and similar birds, the feet are parallel to each. This is due to spending more time on the ground, searching for food. The birds move at high speeds between perches.

When you get to larger birds they spend more time moving along branches, and therefore have "pigeon toed" feet. it allows them to move along a single object easier due to the feet being much stronger in that position. They've no need to bounce from point to point in a straight line.

A simple explanation, that I can get more indepth should you have more questions.

And as for pea brains, I've seen a bird disassemble a door lock, simply beacuse it was keeping his cage door shut. It might surprise you at how intelligent they really are. Even the pigeons.

AO

I have pigeon toed feet since i was born. So does that mean i have stonger feet and legs?.

 

[darklegion_ca]

I would take that as a no.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
I have no doubt that birds exhibit intelligence. Just try think about how they fly through trees without nailing any branches. They either have lightning fast reactions, or mega-impressive powers of photographic memory to map the position of branches.

Actually, on that point, in addition to having superior eyesight (in terms of seeing distance), birds have much 'faster' eyesight than humans as well (think of it as a faster frame rate), and consequently have much more visual information to base decisions on that we do.

 

[ving]

yup, its all got to do with evolution, habitat and feeding...

if a small bird (say a sparrow) were to walk, they would take forever to get around. hopping also makes them harder to hit for preditors. if a bird like an emu were to hop it would not be energy efficient at all and over time thru evolution thier legs would change shape....
pidgeons (I like to call them "rats with wings") forage on the ground (or sould I say scavenge) and a hopping motion would make them miss out on alot of food (this is a size thing for a sparrow, which is considerable smaller wont miss out while hopping).... pideons are also developed to fly extensive distances...
ummm...

i hate pidgeons

 

[bengee]

i think seaguls are worse than pigeons...