| Abstract: | 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. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5224809 |
| Citation Author: | Cronin, T.W.; Kinloch, M.R.; Olsen, G.H. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | S569 |
| Citation Issue: | Supplement 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Ornithology |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 1 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | S563-S569 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | Proceedings of the 24th International Ornithological Congress that was held in Hamburg, Germany, from 19 to 26 August 2006.Volume II: Symposia Papers. 6801_Cronin.pdf |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Head-bobbing behavior in walking whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis); 2007; Article; Journal; Journal of Ornithology; Cronin, T.W.; Kinloch, M.R.; Olsen, G.H. |
| Citation Start Page: | S563 |
| Citation Volume: | 148 |
| Citation Year: | 2007 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Head-bobbing behavior in walking whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis); 2007; Article; Journal; Journal of Ornithology; Cronin, T.W.; Kinloch, M.R.; Olsen, G.H. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://commerce.metapress.com/content/246nq840gp23q2pq/?p=438eacb64f4e4ecfa8e4638334fe9435&pi=49 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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