Bird necks

[Daniel Bensen <dbensen@bowdoin.edu>]

Looking at skeletons of ancient birds (not so much Archaeopteryx as things
like Confuciusornis and Cathayornis) I am continuously surprised by their
short little necks.  Cathaynoris has a short curve of cervical vertebrae
(4-5 looking at the photo), which Confuciusornis's neck is even shorter.
Does anyone have any theories as to why these necks are so short?  They make
sense aerodynamically, I suppose, but when the birds were at rest, they must
have had a hell of a time looking around.

Dan
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