Why do some 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. 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 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

In the same study as the treadmill experiment, researchers filmed pigeons in their natural environment. Then, frame-by-frame, they analyzed the movement of the birds’ head, feet, and bodies and confirmed that the head “bob” was an illusion. Of course, plenty of other birds jerk their heads as they walk, notably chickens. read more