“Q: Ok this is a srs question I demand a srs answer. Why do dangerbirbs (and parrots) tilt their head more than, say, passerines? Especially since songbirds are (somewhat) related to parrots and falcons? Google result for “bird head tilt” is over 50% eagles/hawks/owls. Is this because they have more flexible neck? Thus more noticeable & snapworthy? Or is this a predatory behavior? Which means parrots are falcons gone vegetarian? I need to know. I want to understand birbology.”
I am always happy to help with important birbology such as this!
The truth is actually much simpler than you might imagine. As with everything some things: SIZE MATTERS
Neck size, specifically. Songbirds have dinky little short necks compared to basically every other bird, and have correspondingly limited neck mobility. So they can flip their heads a little bit, but not to the same adorably ridiculous extremes as the larger dangerbirbs.
