A Look at Bird Legs

The parts of a bird’s leg may not be what you think. They do not stand on feet, but rather on their toes. What appears to be a backwards bent knee is actually their ankle or heel. Their knee does bend forward like a human’s but you usually can’t see it because it’s covered by feathers. Most birds have four toes, with the first toe, or hallux, turned backwards.

On some birds, such as pheasants, this toe is elevated and may not even touch the ground. Each toe has a claw, and on some species, like Sprague’s Pipits or Horned Larks, the claw on the hallux is quite impressive for a small bird. These elongated hind claws help these birds maneuver on the ground through uneven grassland vegetation.

(Pictured: Sprague’s Pipit, pheasant)