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Why would a bird fly upside down?

I saw this kittiwake flying upside down (see photo) in Norway's Svalbard archipelago - about 79 north - while we were stuck in the sea ice. This and other kittiwakes were feeding on polar cod (about 13 centimetres long) that had become uncovered as our ship broke through the ice.

What is it doing and why? How many other birds can do this?

Bill Reed, US

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Last edited on: 2010-02-24 11:06:45

Categories: Animals.

Tags: fly, bird, upsidedown, flight, kittiwake.

 

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Anonymous says:
Its got one good eye and has to swivel its head around to see properly. Its not whiffling, when bird whiffles they turn their body upside down but keep their head the right way up.
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posted on 2009-06-17 16:50:56 | Report abuse


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Anonymous says:
The poster named Yggdrasil may recall an old Swedish joke that started like this - Why did the bird fly upside down over Norway?I agree with the first comments; it is just looking over it#39;s shoulder.
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posted on 2009-06-18 08:20:21 | Report abuse


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Anonymous says:
I have seen crows lining up on a ledge and taking turns to plunge over head first diving down into the ridge lift created by the oncoming wind. Each would tumble and summersault (sp?) and do twisting turns before returning to the end of the line. Exactly like human board divers. Seen in a remote Rocky Mountain location from the road, these birds were having a ball, and there were no apparent rewards.
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posted on 2009-06-19 11:22:26 | Report abuse


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Jack Roo says:
What happens when ducks fly upsidedown?
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posted on 2009-06-19 11:52:01 | Report abuse


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Anonymous says:
Here#39;s another picture of a Kittywake in the same flight maneuver. Both birds have their heads cocked and are spraying water from their beaks. Having looked at other photos, the coloring suggests that the birds are flying upright. They may have just feed and are ejecting sea water as they swallow.http://allcreatures.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/kittiwake21.gif
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posted on 2009-06-20 12:22:50 | Report abuse


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