where do birds feet go when they fly
Bird feet and legs
Zygodactyl : two toes in front ( 2 , 3 ) and two in back ( 1 , 4 ) -- the outermost front toe ( 4 ) is reversed . The zygodactyl arrangement is a case of convergence , because it evolved in birds in different ways nine times . In many perching birds -- most woodpeckers and their allies , ospreys , owls , cuckoos , most parrots , mousebirds , some swifts and cuckoo rollers . Woodpeckers , when climbing , can rotate the outer rear digit ( 4 ) to the side in an ectropodactyl arrangement . Black - backed woodpeckers , Eurasian three - toed woodpeckers and American three - toed woodpeckers have three toes -- the inner rear ( 1 ) is missing and the outer rear ( 4 ) points always backward and never rotates . Owls , ospreys and turacos can rotate the outer toe ( 4 ) back and forth . Heterodactyl : two toes in front ( 3 , 4 ) and two in back ( 2 , 1 ) -- the inner front toe ( 2 ) is reversed ; heterodactyl arrangement exits only exists in trogons . Syndactyl : three toes in front ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) , one in back ( 1 ) ; the outer and middle ( 2 , 3 ) are joined for much of their length . Common in Coraciiformes , including kingfishers and hornbills . Pamprodactyl : two inner toes in front ( 2 , 3 ) , the two outer ( 1 , 4 ) can rotate freely forward and backward . In mousebirds and some swifts . Some swifts move all four digits forward to use them as hooks to hang .
Zygodactyl : two toes in front ( 2 , 3 ) and two in back ( 1 , 4 ) -- the outermost front toe ( 4 ) is reversed . The zygodactyl arrangement is a case of convergence , because it evolved in birds in different ways nine times . In many perching birds -- most woodpeckers and their allies , ospreys , owls , cuckoos , most parrots , mousebirds , some swifts and cuckoo rollers . Woodpeckers , when climbing , can rotate the outer rear digit ( 4 ) to the side in an ectropodactyl arrangement . Black - backed woodpeckers , Eurasian three - toed woodpeckers and American three - toed woodpeckers have three toes -- the inner rear ( 1 ) is missing and the outer rear ( 4 ) points always backward and never rotates . Owls , ospreys and turacos can rotate the outer toe ( 4 ) back and forth . Heterodactyl : two toes in front ( 3 , 4 ) and two in back ( 2 , 1 ) -- the inner front toe ( 2 ) is reversed ; heterodactyl arrangement exits only exists in trogons . Syndactyl : three toes in front ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) , one in back ( 1 ) ; the outer and middle ( 2 , 3 ) are joined for much of their length . Common in Coraciiformes , including kingfishers and hornbills . Pamprodactyl : two inner toes in front ( 2 , 3 ) , the two outer ( 1 , 4 ) can rotate freely forward and backward . In mousebirds and some swifts . Some swifts move all four digits forward to use them as hooks to hang .