MCQ Detailed View

The correct answer is Hummingbirds (Option C). These fascinating birds are unique in many ways, and one of their most unusual characteristics is that while they do have legs, they cannot walk.

Hummingbirds belong to the family Trochilidae, and they are best known for their incredible ability to hover and fly in all directions—even backward. Their legs are extremely short and weak compared to other birds. These legs are adapted only for perching on branches, feeders, or wires, but not for walking or hopping on the ground.

The reason hummingbirds cannot walk lies in their evolutionary design. Over millions of years, these birds developed specialized wings and muscles that allow them to beat their wings up to 50–80 times per second. This flight adaptation required their bodies to become lighter and more streamlined. As a result, their legs became reduced in size and strength, making them almost useless for walking.

Instead of walking, hummingbirds spend almost their entire lives in flight. They use their wings to move quickly from one flower to another, feeding on nectar with their long, tube-shaped tongues. They also catch small insects in the air for protein. When they need to rest, they perch briefly, but walking is not a part of their movement.

In contrast, other birds like loons and grebes have limited walking abilities because their legs are set far back on their bodies, making them clumsy on land. However, hummingbirds are the only birds that truly cannot walk at all, despite having legs.

This adaptation shows how evolution favors specialized survival traits. By sacrificing walking ability, hummingbirds became expert fliers, capable of rapid movement, hovering, and precision feeding. Their weak legs are simply a trade-off for unmatched aerial skills.

Thus, the bird with legs but unable to walk is the Hummingbird.