diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/effects.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/effects.lua
index 37d63e48c..cf48551f1 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/effects.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/effects.lua
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ function mob_class:check_head_swivel(dtime)
 	end
 
 	-- 0.02 is about 1.14 degrees tolerance, to update less often
-	if math.abs(oldr.x-newr.x) + math.abs(oldr.y-newr.y) + math.abs(oldr.z-newr.z) < 0.02 and vector.equals(oldp, vector.zero()) then return end
+	if math.abs(oldr.x-newr.x) + math.abs(oldr.y-newr.y) + math.abs(oldr.z-newr.z) < 0.02 then return end
 
 	if self.object.get_bone_override then -- minetest >= 5.9
 		self.object:set_bone_override(self.head_swivel, {
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
index 8436540bf..8ffac16c7 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
@@ -701,7 +701,19 @@ function mcl_mobs.spawn(pos,id)
 	local def = minetest.registered_entities[id] or minetest.registered_entities["mobs_mc:"..id] or minetest.registered_entities["extra_mobs:"..id]
 	if not def or not def.is_mob or (def.can_spawn and not def.can_spawn(pos)) then return false end
 	if not has_room(def, pos) then return false end
-	return minetest.add_entity(pos, def.name)
+	local ent = minetest.add_entity(pos, def.name)
+	-- initialize head bone
+	if def.head_swivel and def.head_bone_position then
+		if ent and ent.get_bone_override then -- minetest >= 5.9
+			ent:set_bone_override(def.head_swivel, {
+				position = { vec = def.head_bone_position, absolute = true },
+				rotation = { vec = vector.zero(), absolute = true }
+			})
+		else -- minetest < 5.9
+			self.object:set_bone_position(def.head_swivel, def.head_bone_position, vector.zero)
+		end
+	end
+	return ent
 end
 
 local function spawn_group(p,mob,spawn_on,amount_to_spawn)
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/blaze.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/blaze.lua
index 676a22a2f..a025479f8 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/blaze.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/blaze.lua
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:blaze", {
 	mesh = "mobs_mc_blaze.b3d",
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 1.4,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 4, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 3.9, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 10,
 	head_pitch_multiplier=-1,
 	textures = {
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/chicken.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/chicken.lua
index 32dfff789..11392dc7f 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/chicken.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/chicken.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:chicken", {
 	floats = 1,
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 0.5,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new(0, 4, -.3), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new(0, 3.72, -.472), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 10,
 	head_yaw="z",
 	visual_size = {x=1,y=1},
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
index 8d960d9cb..785f047dd 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ local cow_def = {
 	}, },
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 1.1,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 10, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 10.07, -1.744 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 2,
 	head_yaw="z",
 	makes_footstep_sound = true,
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
index d8bc74f02..0379979ce 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:llama", {
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 1.5,
 	head_yaw = "z",
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 11, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 10.62, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 60,
 
 	hp_min = 15,
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/ocelot.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/ocelot.lua
index a8d75ea0f..a09079b13 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/ocelot.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/ocelot.lua
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ local ocelot = {
 	xp_max = 3,
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 0.4,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 6.2, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 6.44, -0.42 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	head_yaw="z",
 	curiosity = 4,
 	collisionbox = {-0.3, -0.01, -0.3, 0.3, 0.69, 0.3},
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/parrot.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/parrot.lua
index 185fcdd41..dbc43feec 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/parrot.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/parrot.lua
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:parrot", {
 	xp_min = 1,
 	xp_max = 3,
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 1.1, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 1.211, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 10,
 	collisionbox = {-0.25, -0.01, -0.25, 0.25, 0.89, 0.25},
 	visual = "mesh",
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:parrot", {
 		fly_speed = 50,
 		stand_start = 0,
 		stand_end = 0,
-		fly_start = 30,
-		fly_end = 45,
+		fly_start = 60,
+		fly_end = 120,
 		walk_start = 0,
 		walk_end = 20,
 		-- TODO: actual walk animation
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/pig.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/pig.lua
index 02668ba8e..e0065d6c0 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/pig.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/pig.lua
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:pig", {
 	}},
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 0.7,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 7.5, -1 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 7.23, -1.03 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 3,
 	head_yaw="z",
 	makes_footstep_sound = true,
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/piglin.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/piglin.lua
index c3831c7b0..0c56a737c 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/piglin.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/piglin.lua
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ local zombified_piglin = {
 	damage = 9,
 	reach = 2,
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 2.4, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 2.417, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	head_eye_height = 1.4,
 	curiosity = 15,
 	collisionbox = {-0.3, -0.01, -0.3, 0.3, 1.94, 0.3}, -- same
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/polar_bear.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/polar_bear.lua
index 82f54a868..c132b1e35 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/polar_bear.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/polar_bear.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:polar_bear", {
 	},
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 1,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 2.6, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 2.396, 0 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 20,
 	head_yaw="z",
 	visual_size = {x=3.0, y=3.0},
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/sheep.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/sheep.lua
index 67da51691..eb817ab8a 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/sheep.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/sheep.lua
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:sheep", {
 	collisionbox = {-0.45, -0.01, -0.45, 0.45, 1.29, 0.45},
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	head_eye_height = 1.0,
-	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 3.3, -.7 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
+	head_bone_position = vector.new( 0, 3.7, -.9 ), -- for minetest <= 5.8
 	curiosity = 6,
 	head_yaw="z",
 	visual = "mesh",