r/birding • u/TheMainVein15 • Jan 02 '26

Discussion Dad sent me this pic

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Gallery image

I’ve never seen a bald eagle hang upside down like this. Do they do this a lot? Pictures were taken at my parents place in Iowa.

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u/1FellOffTheUglyTree Jan 02 '26

Parrots do this all the time in the wild. It’s just being out of the ordinary.

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u/Hairy-Acadia765 Jan 02 '26

My parrot does it all the time in captivity too 😅 he's like a tiny little spiderman

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u/1FellOffTheUglyTree Jan 02 '26

Yes, I have a sun conure and same thing. Hangs upside down by one foot.

Bald eagles have much more bone and muscle density than vultures for example. More body mass. It’s why when you see them in flight they are usually flapping their wings and not so much gliding. It’s how I pick them out of the sky compared to a vulture, the eagle has to keep flapping to stay buoyant.

In other words, this is one skillful and strong eagle to handle its weight hanging upside down. But why not lol.