Do Birds Blink?

 

Have you ever wondered if birds blink? You may have watched them for a long period of time only to see them slightly closing their eyes, but is it really blinking? Birds, reptiles, and some amphibians do blink, but they do so a little different from people and other animals. For instance, birds blink with something called a nictitating membrane. They blink with this membrane from one side of the eye to the other.  Birds also have a third eyelid that operates in a way that enables the bird’s eye to remain moist and not dry out. The blinking keeps the moisture going via tears and lubricant that the eyes secrete. The moving of the third eyelid gives the eye that “blink” look as well. This is most likely what you’ve witnessed when watching your bird for a long period of time. Learn more here or call your vets Greater Cincinnati.