BirdNote Daily Left Foot or Right? Handedness in Birds
Nov 22, 2025
Discover the fascinating world of bird handedness as a parrot's eye placement influences its foot choice. Most Sulphur-crested Cockatoos prefer their left foot for complex tasks, showcasing the quirky side of avian behavior. The podcast dives into how eye position impacts this preference and explores handedness in other animals like primates and kangaroos. The evolution of this trait highlights its role in enhancing skill and efficiency. A delightful exploration of animal quirks and their implications!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Left-Footed Cockatoo Greeting
- Imagine offering your hand to a sulfur-crested cockatoo and choosing which side to offer.
- Most sulfur-crested cockatoos prefer the left foot and will take food with that side.
Handedness Affects Visual-Motor Coordination
- Parrots use their feet for complex manipulation while coordinating eye use by cocking their heads.
- Handedness exists across animals and improves skill and efficiency in complex tasks.
Handedness Varies Across Parrot Species
- A study of 16 Australian parrot species found varied handedness: about half left, a third right, some neutral.
- Handedness appears across many species, not just humans, with species-specific biases.