Ravens Flying Upside Down

Abstract

BIRDS frequently perform strange antics in the air, both during courtship and at other times, and the air acrobatics of the raven have long been known. Thus Morris describes him as “performing various circling evolutions and frolicsome somersets in view of his mate”. Yarrell, a better observer, says that in courtship the raven “turns over sideways on his back as he flies, shooting in that position in front of his mate”. More recently, in 1917 if my memory serves me, the trick of flying upside down was referred to in a well-informed article on ravens which appeared in the Times.