system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do birds and squirrels hop short distances instead of walk?

I know they _can_ walk, why do they choose to do those little hops instead?
gpt
Not all birds can walk. The smaller they are, the less capable their legs. Humming birds can only open and close their feet, they can't even hop.

Typically when an animal chooses one gait over another, they're doing so because it's easier.

If you're only trying to move the length of your body, and you have short legs, it may be faster to basically fall over and pull your back legs up, than to take a bunch of tiny steps.