Head-bobbing behavior in walking whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis)
Head-bobbing is a common and characteristic behavior of walking birds. While the activity could have a relatively minor biomechanical function, for balance and stabilization of gait, head-bobbing is thought to be primarily a visual behavior in which fixation of gaze alternates with a forward movement that generates visual flow. We studied head-bobbing in locomoting whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis), using food strewn on the ground to motivate them to walk or run. When the cranes walked, head-bobbing proceeded in a four-step sequence that was closely linked to the stepping cycle. The time available for gaze stabilization decreased with travel speed, and running cranes did not head-bob at all. As a crane extended its bill towards the ground for food, it also exhibited a series of short head-bobs that were not associated with forward travel. Head-bobbing is a flexible behavior that varies with gait and with visual search, most notably as the cranes prepare to strike with the bill.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2007 |
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Title | Head-bobbing behavior in walking whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) |
DOI | 10.1007/s10336-007-0199-0 |
Authors | Thomas W. Cronin, Matthew R. Kinloch, Glenn H. Olsen |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Journal of Ornithology |
Index ID | 70031398 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |