Nature & Environment

Footage of weird 'gorilla crow' goes viral

By T.K. Randall
June 25, 2019

Image: Carrion Crow
Credit: Pavel Sirotkin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) The unusual bird was captured on camera by Keitaro Simpson in the Japanese city of Nagoya.

Rather than standing on the ground using its feet like crows typically do, this one seems to be resting on its wings with its legs tucked away behind it, making it look a bit like a gorilla standing on all-fours.

The footage quickly gained attention on social media and has so far been viewed 9 million times.According to crow expert Kaeli Swift however, there is a perfectly rational explanation.

"What it's actually doing is sunning itself," she wrote. "When birds sun they drop their wings and cock their tails. At the right angle that could obscure the legs and tail making it look like they're missing."

朝から衝æ'ƒã‚'ありがとう。
心臓に悪い、 pic.twitter.com/fDlOGiumD6

— LIWJATAN (@keita_simpson) June 20, 2019

Source: FM104.ie

Tags: Crow