Do bird see sideways?

Question

So, you know how birds have eyes on the SIDES of their heads and not the front? Does that mean that birds see things sideways and not frontwards? If so, how do they see what's in front of them, and, also, how do the two halves of what they see look in their brain?

* I apologize for the grammar in my title. It should read: "Do birds see sideways?"

Answer 1

It depends on the bird. As a general rule, predatory birds have their vision focussed forward (eg, owls, hawks, eagles) while herbivorous bird have a wider arc of vision, including to the sides of their bodies. (That is, the higher on the food chain a species of bird is, the more likely thay have specialised to see forward of their bodies.) In both instances, the bird's brain combines and interprets the world in a useful way for the bird. They are not 'seeing forwards' or 'seeing sideways' - they are seeing in a way useful for that species.

(As a matter of comparison, human females interpret a wider arc of vision than male humans - hence the reason why men are sometimes described as not being able to find something 'right under their nose'. Women don't "see sideways", their brains just interpret visual information from a wider lateral angle.)

Answer 2

They have two foveae, or centers of focus, that allow the birds to see both forward and to the side at the same time.

Answer 3

Well I don't think all birds have eyes on the sides and as far as how they see things in their bird brains, well, why don't you answer that one?

Answer 4

yes.
also snakes.
If u stand straight infront of a snake or a parrot then they can't see u.

Answer 5

i would guess so