OT: ? for Bird Folks

Tia Mary · 2006-05-05T13:22:56+00:00

Hi Guys, I was sitting on the front porch having my b'fast yogurt and watching all the birds flit about looking for their b'fast when a bird question came to mind. Ages ago, I noticed that, when moving along on terra firma, some birds walk and others hop. I have absolutely NO idea why this is and it has always puzzled Moi. Does anyone here know why some birds evolved with walking legs and others with hopping legs? I mean, it's obvious that they must have different skeletal & muscular systems but I'm curious as to *why* they are different. What's the evolutionary or survival purpose for the difference? It's not a size thing because I have seen small and large birds that walk while other small & large birds hop. I thought about Googling but have absolutely no idea what to put into the search word box -- LOL! I'm pretty sure all fowl are walkers -- chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasant, grouse, etc. are all walkers and I don't recall ever seeing any of them hop. Vultures are *huge* birds and they hop but cardinals are smallish birds and they walk. I don't recall ever seeing any really small birds -- cactus wrens, and those ubiquitous little brown birds (some brand of sparrow, I suppose), parakeets, chickadees, etc. -- that walk. So -- any solid info or even SWAGs from anyone?? CiaoMeow >^;;^