Getting about
Question: Why do some birds walk and others hop? And are there any that do
both?
Answer: Birds use three distinct gaits. In walking, the left and right feet
move in turn, half a cycle out of phase with each other. Each foot is on the
ground for more than half the time, so there are times when both feet are on the
ground. In running, the feet also move half a cycle out of phase with each
other, but each foot is on the ground for less than half the time and there are
times when both…
