Feet Type
What do the feet look like?
Bird feet can tell you a lot about how a bird lives, where it moves and how it finds food.
Perching Feet
Gripping feet - for holding a branch
Three toes forward and one backward. Common in many small birds.
Where to look: On any garden bird sitting on a wire or a branch.
ExploreClimbing Feet
Climbing feet - two toes forward, two back
Two toes forward and two backward, with stiff tail support for climbing tree trunks.
Where to look: Woodpeckers and treecreepers, head-first up a tree trunk.
ExploreScratching Feet
Scratching feet - for digging in the ground
Sturdy feet and toes that scratch the ground to uncover seeds and insects.
Where to look: Chickens and sparrows in a dusty patch or a flower bed.
ExploreWading Feet
Stilt legs - for walking in shallow water
Long, thin legs and long toes for walking through shallow water without sinking.
Where to look: Herons and lapwings at the edge of a pond or a wet field.
ExploreSwimming Feet
Webbed feet - like paddles
Webbed feet that work like paddles to push a duck smoothly through water.
Where to look: Ducks, geese and gulls floating on a pond or a river.
ExploreRaptorial Feet
Sharp talons - for catching prey
Sharp curved talons that grip and carry prey.
Where to look: Eagles and kites, and the owl on its perch.
ExploreWhose feet are these?
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