Stop it, birds, your necks are stupid
We’ve seen a lot of raptors with their heads turned 180 degrees recently. Jerry Harris dropped me a line to remind me that flamingos are also perverts when it comes to neck posture. Here are three of his photos:
All these photos shows multiple individuals curving their necks through 180 degrees so they can rest them on their torsos. In fact, they go much further than 180 degrees, then curve back again: the individual on the right of the second photo, and the one on the left of the last photo. are both curling their necks 270 degrees to the right, then 90 degrees back to the left. That is of course a total of 360 degrees, which strongly suggests these bad boys can crank a full 360 if they want to. (In fact, it has to mean that, unless the necks are asymmetric, and I’ve never heard any suggestion of that.)
And more: this is not some kind of extreme behaviour that flamingos can attain in extremis. This is what they do to relax.
Note by the way that different flamingos are shown here curving their necks in different directions. For example, check out the two birds sitting in the foreground of the third photo. I wonder whether different individuals have different handedness, or whether each bird randomly curves one way, then next time the other. Or even if they alternate handedness for successive rests.
In some senses, what we’re seeing here from the flamingos is the most extreme neck posture we’ve seen in the present sequence of posts. But in another sense, this is much less impressive than the raptors. Flamingos have long cervicals, and they are bending their intervertebral joints laterally to achieve these postures. The raptors by contrast have craniocaudally short vertebrae, and they are twisting the joints to achieve their 180-degree turns. And that is what I find preposterous.
Some time soon, I must get around to posting the osteological implications.
Source: https://svpow.com/2026/01/13/stop-it-birds-your-necks-are-stupid/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,767,924,494 |
| Stories: | 8,565,342 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
