While it is true that the birds do perform backward somersaults in flight, the exact neurological causes of the rolling behavior are still unknown.
This walk yielded just one glimpse - a single bird performing the spiral ascent in near darkness - but the audience seemed satisfied.
During the breeding season in winter, from May to August, the male bird performs displays of song and dance to attract the females.
A small exotic bird called Kevin performs a moving tribute to Michael Jackson.
Before mating, the birds perform a display which is unique in the animal kingdom.
There is a small terrace near a fountain, along a path that leads up to the amphitheater where flying birds of prey perform in shows.
From that perspective, she suggests, parasitized birds are performing a kind of service to people.
This diminished power may also affect behavior; higher-elevation birds probably can't perform complex flight maneuvers to escape predators.
Other birds of prey perform similar feats as they hunt down live animals.
The fact that a bird can perform an intricate nesting ritual, for example, does not indicate it's particularly smart.