Whiffling

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Whiffling is a term used in ornithology to describe the behavior whereby a bird rapidily descends with a zig-zagging, side-slipping motion. Sometimes to whiffle, a bird flies briefly with its body turned upside down but with its neck and head twisted 180 degrees around in a normal position. The aerodynamics which usually give a bird lift during flying are thereby inverted and the bird briefly plummets toward the ground before this is quickly reversed and the bird adopts a normal flying orientation.^[1] This erratic motion resembles a falling leaf, and is used to avoid avian predators or may be used by geese (family Anatidae) to avoid a long, slow descent over an area where wildfowling is practised.^[2]

The behavior is seen in several species including Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), geese (e.g. Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus), three species of Scoter (Melanitta), and other members of the family Anatidae.^[3]

References

External links

• Goose flies upside-down
• Whiffling geese: photographs and comments on reasons
• Slow-motion video of whiffling geese