Look at my feet!
Why can dippers walk in river?
Birds have evolved diverse foot structures to adapt to their specific environments and lifestyles. From webbed feet for efficient swimming to talons for gripping prey, these adaptations optimize survival. Despite the absence of webbed feet, dippers exhibit proficient swimming skills. They enter the water by either diving from a rock, resurfacing, or walking directly in from the stream or river bank. Environmental pressures drive the evolution of specialized feet, enabling birds to navigate, hunt, and thrive in a variety of ecosystems, showcasing nature's remarkable capacity for adaptation.
To begin with...
While living in the same habitat, birds that spent a significant amount of time near a river developed very different foot features in order to adapt to the environment. Match the following birds photos and description about their feet. Please read out the description to your parents/children and let them guess based on their observation.
Birds Photos
Descriptions
01
Lobate foot/lobed foot are characterized by toes with a set of webbed lobes that open when the foot is pushed backward.
02
Long-legged waders, it benefits from extended limbs for wading in shallow waters.
03
The palmate feet feature webbing only on the three forward toes, with a small and elevated hind toe. During the winter mating season, the feet transform into a vibrant orange color as part of the courtship display.
04
Black, unwebbed, very strong for gripping rocks. It has three toes forward and one backward, just like an ordinary bird.
The answers can be found at the bottom of this page.
What's next?
Are you familiar with the part of the Water of Leith closest to your home? Why not consider a visit there to see whether you can meet the lovely birds? For those who do not wish to travel that far, you can also observe the birds that live in your neighborhood. Would you be able to tell the difference between the structure of their feet and those of river birds? You could try to compare the feet of birds that live in different environments and see if you can tell the differences. You could also observe their behavior and try to identify which birds are native to your neighborhood. The website below can help you identify different types of birds.
NatureScot
https://www.nature.scot/plants-animals-and-fungi/birds/freshwater-birds
Revealing the feet!
Answer for the activity above
A -
Eurasian Coot
(Lobed foot)
C -
Mallard
(Palmate feet)
B -
Grey Heron
