Question Why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk?

Answer

Most evidence suggests that the head bobbing serves a visual function.

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. It could be that the behavior assists with balance, provides depth perception or sharpens their vision. The prevailing theory, however, is that birds in motion bob their heads to stabilize their visual surroundings. In comparison, we rely more on our eye movements, not our head movements, to catch and hold images while in motion.

Picture a pigeon on a moving treadmill. What do you think would happen as the pigeon walks with the speed of the treadmill and its environment remains relatively the same? Dr. Barrie J Frost (1978) did this experiment and the pigeon’s head did not bob.

Dr. Mark Friedman (1975) also conducted a series of experiments to test the head bobbing actions of birds, using doves. His research demonstrated that the head movement is controlled more by visual stimulation than movement of the body. In practice, the bird’s head is thrust out in front of the bird, and the body catches up as it walks.

Scientists continue to research head bobbing in birds. For example, scientists are currently investigating question such as “Why do some birds exhibit head bobbing, while other do not?” Crows and chickens also exhibit this behavior, but ducks, owls and penguins do not. Birds that hop, such as sparrows and finches don’t head-bob, as hopping is an entirely different motion. The reasons why a bird bobs, doesn’t bob, or hops remains a bit of a mystery, but might be due to of differences in body size and shape or foraging behavior. 

Published: 11/19/2019. Updated 1/15/25. Author: Science Reference Section, Library of Congress