• General_Shenanigans@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    People used to believe that when birds were turning their heads while hunting worms that they were listening for them. Just in case you went through life without anybody pointing this out: They’re literally just getting a good look at the ground because most of them have their eyes somewhat on the side of their head.

    • 200ok@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Fun fact: Predators have forward-facing eyes. Prey have side-facing eyes. Worms don’t have eyes.

    • ArtieShaw@fedia.io
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      7 months ago

      The comment is a week old, but I feel this because I only recently figured it out. When I was a little pre-K kid I loved watching robins hunt worms in the yard, and my mom told me that they were listening for worms. It made sense when you’re four.

      40+ years later I realized that robins have eyes on the sides of their heads and maybe… maybe… there’s another explanation that makes more sense. And I only really thought it through because all these years later I was watching robins hunting something that wasn’t worms in my own backyard. “huh, I wonder what they’re eating back there that’s as loud as worms? Oh shit.”