Although wings, feathers, and specially-designed beaks are very important to birds, their feet are also special features. And if you look closely, you’ll see many different types of bird feet. Welcome to Field Notes, I’m Rob MacDonald, a Wildlife Biologist with the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.

One of the more well-known types of bird feet are webbed feet designed for swimming. Ducks and geese all possess webbed feet.

Another well-known type of bird feet are the long talons and curved feet of hawks, eagles, owls, and falcons. These feet are well-suited for grasping the fish, birds, and small mammals they prey on.

Sandpipers and other shorebirds have feet with long, straight toes and usually long legs. These feet are perfect for walking in nearshore water and soft mud.

Feet designed for perching have long, curved toes that enable the birds to grasp the branches of trees and shrubs. Thrushes, warblers, sparrows, jays, ravens, and magpies all have these perching feet.

Another type of bird’s feet is designed to scratch for food. Grouse and ptarmigan have these feet, which are comprised of three strong toes in front and a spur-like toe behind.

Our woodpeckers obviously need special feet so they can grip and hold onto tree bark. Their feet have two toes facing forward and two toes facing backwards.

Birds also need feet specially designed to walk on top of snow. Ptarmigan have these feet that have toes covered with feathers.

A final type of bird’s feet is very unique. American dippers have feet that allow them to clutch rocks while walking underwater. The feet of a dipper are made up of long, thin toes that give them the ability to catch insects on the bottom of fast-moving streams.

It is surprising to realize all of the different types of bird feet. For Field Notes, I’m Rob MacDonald.