Why don't birds fall from trees while they are asleep?

kaylofgorons

When birds perch, there is a tendon in their legs that gets pulled further, locking their toes tightly to the branch. Birds' "knees" bend backwards, so when they perch this tendon is pulled to its furthest extent over the back of the knee. This is not changed until the bird consciously "lifts his knees up" and releases the tension on this tendon. The bird can sleep on the tree because his weight pushes down on his knees and keeps that tendon tight. Convenient, otherwise a sleeping bird would make an easy meal for predators. [Nov 10 04 7:55 AM] kaylofgorons writes: They have three toes forward and one back, which allows them to grip well. That tendon even has projections that mesh with groves in the tendon sheath to keep it in place. I had to dig out my book and paraphrase for this one. Nov 09 04, 9:16 PM

peasypod

Hallux toes and flexor tendons apparently... http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/sloopy.html Nov 10 04, 12:54 AM

TheAlphaWolf

"Birds' "knees" bend backwards" no they don't... those are their ankles. and woodpeckers and parrots and others have 2 toes pointing back and 2. pointing forward. good question. my type of question :P [Nov 11 04 10:11 AM] TheAlphaWolf writes: well, they don't rotate because they have claws to keep them in place and bumps in their toes. I imagine that if there's a wind, the bird automatically shifts a little so it doesn't fall.... same with the wires. I have two lovebirds and if they're in my finger and you rotate it, you can feel them shifting their weight. I guess they just do it without thinking Like we do things in our sleep. I think bats have a similar mechanism... only it works backwards lol. They can even die while upside down and they won't fall. Nov 10 04, 7:37 PM

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