Why do birds bob their heads when they walk?

Chickens bob their heads while walking. So do cranes, magpies and quails. In fact, head bobbing is a unique feature in birds and occurs in at least 8 of the 27 families of birds. However, most studies suggest that birds in motion bob their heads to stabilize their visual surroundings. read more

Chickens bob their heads while walking. So do cranes, magpies and quails. In fact, head bobbing is a unique feature in birds and occurs in at least 8 of the 27 families of birds. There are a few theories why some birds bob their heads when they walk: 1. Assists with balance 2. Provides depth perception 3. read more

Birds, like chickens and pigeons, bob their heads so the world won't be a blur when they walk. Birds, like chickens and pigeons, bob their heads so the world won't be a blur when they walk. Skip to: Start of article Visually Open Nav. read more

Birds move their heads as they walk because birds rely on head movement, not eye movement, like humans, to see. They bob/sway their heads as a way to stabilize their (new) environment. The bobbing probably (scientifically) has little to do with how they move. read more