Bottoms Up!
We don't usually get to see the bottoms of a robin's feet! Take a closer look at the legs and feet of this robin in Houston, TX: What looks like a backward knee corresponds to our heel, and the long bone is what would be our foot bone. The backward toe is shorter, and is a true toe that grows back to help a robin hang onto a perch. This toe locks close onto the perch when the bird is resting so the robin doesn't fall off, even though it's very relaxed. T.J. Wallace was very surprised when the robin did more than drink the water—and jumped in for a bath!
Photo: T. J. Wallace