why do birds walk, when they can fly? apart from when they are injured?

Answer 1

There are several reasons, some depending upon the species of bird.

For example, penguins cannot fly (they swim) but do walk. The domesticated chicken can fly for short distances, but also spends most of its time walking.

Hereon and egrets and other fishing birds spend most of there time walking in water. Their fishing technique would be difficult "on the wing."

Even for birds which do fly, the organization of the flight muscles tends to make them less effective than the walking (leg) muscles. It generally takes more food and oxygen to fly than it does to walk.

Some species, like hummingbirds, generally fly or rest with little or no time spent walking.

Answer 2

Robins and other birds with long legs like to walk since they eat a lot of food from the ground - like worms. The birds with the shorter legs like finches fly - they may need to escape predators more quickly and seem more afraid of people. Some birds, aren't that confiedent at flying, watch a sorta newly hatched bird that follows its mother to feeding places (like birdfeeders), when the mom flies off, he just walks awaya nd waits for her. I think 'cause he's not good at flying yet.

Answer 3

Flying is a very energy intensive form of locomotion. Walking is much easier. Many birds which inhabit oceanic islands lose the ability to fly.

Answer 4

To catch bugs ad worms on the ground to eat.

To catch crawdads and fish in water if the bird is a heron.

To grab twigs and leaves to build nests with.

To grow big and fat rather than waste energy with flying --as turkeys do.

Answer 5

many birds forage for invertebrates in the various habitats found at ground level. flying is much more costly in terms of energy for the bird than walking and it must balance its energy intake with its expenditure. so, walking is more cost effective. kinda like when we shop at asda when we could go to waitrose.

Answer 6

There's a lot of food, water, and other things on the ground. They can't fly and do everything. It's not really "walking" anyway.

Answer 7

i'm sure taking off and landing for two feet of movement has alot more effort than just walking

Answer 8

Cos they want to stretch their little legs, and pick up a worm or two. OK.

Answer 9

Why don't you walk 30 miles to work instead of driving a car......Because its easier and less pain in the butt.

Answer 10

Well I'd think it would be pretty hard to look for food (and water) if you had to fly all the time...God made'em that way. He thought of everything! :-)

Answer 11

They do it so it simulates the sound of rain, then the worms come up to get eaten.