Why do birds' heads bob back and forth when they walk??

Answer 1

To keep their balance. Birds have a lot of their body weight in front of their legs. When they walk, they alternate moving their chest and head in time with their legs. This keeps the center of gravity further back than if they kept their head forwards.

Answer 2

Of course not. As any fool can see, a pigeon's legs are connected to its body--and it's a good thing, because the pigeon would look mighty funny if it were assembled according to the offhand anatomy you describe.

Basically the pigeon's back-and-forth head motion--not exactly a bob--helps it keep its balance when walking. The pigeon's legs are located pretty far astern, and if it kept its head forward all the time it would probably tip over. This would expose the pigeon to the ridicule of the community. Instead, what it does is move its chest forward in time with one leg, and its head forward in time with the other leg. Thus some weight is always trailing a little abaft the port beam, as we say. Many fowl have similarly peculiar gaits, because they cannot afford orthopedic shoes.

Answer 3

Have you ever watched a ballerina doing a pirouette? She spins and her head snaps from spot to spot. It is how she maintains her balance. Skaters do the same thing. Birds have to do the same thing because they do not have strong legs. Their wings are much stronger. Their heads don't do that while they are in flight because they trust the strength in their wings. On land, it's a different story. They don't walk a lot and the leg muscles are a great deal weaker, so the head has to help maintain balance. It also has to do with the fact their eyes are on opposite sides of their heads, they don't have the stereo sight humans or other mammals have. They focus on one spot and when they move they have to find another spot to focus on. It's sorta 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

Answer 4

Hi. They use a form of "inertial guidance". Hold a bird with its head covered and its head will remain steady until moved beyond a certain distance and then will make a jump to its new location. It keeps track of where it is this way.

Answer 5

It has been theorized that birds become confused when their surroundings flow by them, so they keep their heads still as long as possible and then do a quick catchup

Answer 6

their neck muscles have spasms when they walk and causes the bobing action.

Answer 7

Ba ba ba balance!

Answer 8

That's why black people keep chickens, to teach their kids how to walk.

Answer 9

why do you watch what birds do?

Answer 10

to keep their balance