# Why pidgeons bob their heads.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 17, 1999, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66 "1999-05-17T13:52:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 1999, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66/1 "1999-05-17T13:52:00Z")

</div>

I agree with your theory that pidgeons bob their heads, when walking, in order to maintain balance. It seems to me that if they did so in order to maintain visual focus, they would have to bob their heads when flying as well. What a sight THAT would be!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raoul_Anatherwan)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66/2 "2002-04-16T16:58:16Z")

</div>

Maybe the pigeons have been in the Ghetto for too long…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66/3 "2002-04-17T19:20:56Z")

</div>

The column being referred to is [Why do pigeons bob their heads? (13-Apr-1979)](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_016.html)