Birdie Toes Question

[Alwese]

All the birds in my yard like sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, hawks, owls and eagles etc. have three toes going forward and one toe going back. My three macaws have TWO toes going forward and TWO going back. Is this a characteristic of all parrots (African greys, Amazons, Cockatoos) and exactly where is the dividing line?

 

[RavensGryf]

Yes, all in the parrot family (Psittacines) have feet like your Macaws. Here's a link you might find interesting. Characteristics of Parrots and Other Psittacine

...and non-Psittacine species here, this isn't what you asked for, but I thought the link was intersting since you mentioned other birds . Browse by Bird Family (taxonomy), All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[strudel]

I never knew that, I just had to go and look.

 

[4dugnlee]

I never knew that, I just had to go and look.

Ditto...:09:

 

[Dinosrawr]

Yup! Just like ducks have webbed feet, there are several different foot orientations in the bird world depending on how they climb, swim, perch, etc. I remember in my ornithology class during our lab final we had to put our hand into a dark box and feel the shape of the foot to determine the foot type and which bird family it belonged to.

 

[strudel]

Even though my cocky's toe goes backwards, it looks like a thumb to me, so I think of it as part of her front toes..... (yes, I'm a bit strange )

 

[Alwese]

I thank you all for your posts and links that clarified that for me. Strudel, I see your beautiful Rose Breasted Cockatoo in your avatar. Last night on our National Geographic TV channel they had a special on Australia, and was showing Galahs nesting on the top of these tall sandstone monoliths. They said the native word for Galah means "Idiot" and have to wonder where they ever got THAT idea!

 

[strudel]

They said the native word for Galah means "Idiot" and have to wonder where they ever got THAT idea!

I don't know that it comes from the aboriginal word, but "galah" is used in the vernacular to call people an idiot. I think my cocky's quite clever, I don't know where they got it from, either.

 

[weco]

Even though my cocky's toe goes backwards, it looks like a thumb to me, so I think of it as part of her front toes..... (yes, I'm a bit strange )

You're right Strudel...those would be the outside rear toes on both feet.....they began their life's journey as front toes and soon after hatching they begin a swing to their rearward position, but their associated 'thumb' would be their #1 toe on each foot...specifically, toe #1 (on the left foot) is the rear toe & numbering continues clockwise through toe #4.....on the right foot, toe numbering is reversed, with toe #1 also the rear toe, with toe numbers continuing in a counter clockwise order...

Interesting topic Al.....

 

[strudel]

Interesting topic Al.....

Yes. I also think of my girl's feet as hands. They are sort of both, in a way (to me ).

 

[RavensGryf]

I also call them their "hands" and fingers lol.

 

[Sicilysangel]

interesting