Birds are amazing creatures.They can fly, perch in super tall buildings and whatnot. The body of this amazing creature has evolved and is well adapted.Birds are members of the Aves class and Chordata phylum. There are 10,000 species of birds in the world out of which 40% of them are migratory and 15% are nonmigratory. Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates that help us with many things like insect and pest control, seed dispersal, ecotourism, and plant pollination. Birds are known and admired for their beautiful wings. But their long legs are also equally fascinating. How much do we know about them? Continue reading to know some interesting facts about a bird’s feet. You can also check out our other articles on where birds go when it rains and when birds migrate to!What are birds’ legs called?The legs of birds do not have any special names. However, other parts of the legs especially the feet have a different name based on the toe arrangement.Around 90% of birds have four toes. Three face forwards and the remaining one faces backward. Some birds have only three toes that are facing forwards. The feet of such birds are called tridactyl feet. There are some birds like the ostrich that only have two toes. They are called didactyl feet. They also have a unique name for the claws present at the end of their toes. These curved hook-like structures are called talons.Do all birds have two legs?Birds are bipedal. So they all have two legs only.Birds are descendants of four-legged reptiles. Over time, the forelimbs of their ancestors transformed into wings as part of evolution. This is why birds have two legs.There are few reports of people spotting four-legged chickens and their pictures are going viral on the internet. A four-legged chicken was spotted on a farm in Shandong, China. It has raised the eyebrows of scientists from all over the world. A similar incident also happened in Brazil. The four-legged chicken is popularly known as the Franken chicken. These strange birds are still being studied by scientists, so until then, it is safe to say that all birds have two legs.What are bird feet made of?Have you ever looked at a bird gliding and landing on the ground? If so, you definitely would have thought about the harsh landing not having a negative impact on their feet.This is thanks to the tough tendons and bones that are present on each foot. When compared to the body, a bird’s foot only has some nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. Some birds even have feathers covering their feet on the outside.Understanding How Birds Feet And Toes WorkBirds use their feet and toes for a variety of things like walking, perching, swimming, and feeding.The toes of a bird provide grip while they perch on tall trees. The anisodactyl arrangement in most birds allows each toe to touch the branch at different points, offering a tight grip. Though birds are found flying most of the time, they spend a good amount of time on the ground too. Unfortunately, unlike us, birds cannot wear shoes to protect their feet. Luckily, their feet are mostly made of tendons and bones, which makes them strong and sturdy. Some birds swim. They use their feet and toes to paddle. Birds like the cranes walk on uneven surfaces. The long toes give them balance while walking on wet mud and plant-filled areas without losing balance. Birds of prey use their feet and toes to grab live food that is moving on the ground.Why Birds’ Feet Don’t FreezeBirds have a remarkable adaptation that keeps their feet from freezing.It is called rete mirabile. This is a Latin term which means ‘a wonderful net’. It is a network of closely knit blood vessels made up, breaking up larger blood vessels. They run along the heart and connect with the veins in the feet of birds. These networks increase the temperature in the muscles of regions where it is present. It also cools the blood that is sent to the feet, preventing heat loss. This will help them maintain an optimal temperature.What to do if you spot an injured or baby bird?Birds fly a lot. So it is easy for them to get injured. Birds landing on your balconies and hitting your windows can be common due to dehydration and loss of energy from hours of travel.This is more common when a bird is migrating. At times like this, when you find an injured bird, you can carefully lift the bird up and place it in a cardboard box. Remember to be gentle as the bird is already in a lot of pain. Covering the box with a lid or cover and placing it in a safe place is the first thing you should do. Make sure the box is not too stuffy. There isn’t much we can do to relieve them from the pain. So focus on the basic things like providing water regularly and placing them in a dark area. Birds can go into shock after an injury. Darkness is known to reduce stress and help them calm down.Baby birds can fall off their nests or be abandoned by their parents. When you see a baby bird, closely watch the bird. Some baby birds can handle themselves. If you can’t find the parents nearby or if they don’t return even after half an hour, just move the baby bird to a sheltered area. If you are able to see a nest somewhere close and are sure that there are no birds or a bird of the same species residing in the nest, you can place it there. If you are unsure, it is best to place the bird in a small basket filled with grass or hay. You can also place a small plate with water close to the bird.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for bird legs, then why not take a look at if birds are cold-blooded or collared aracari facts?
Birds are amazing creatures.
