by LUKE SALKELD
Last updated at 19:01pm on 20th December 2007
After a hard day's flying, you might think a blue tit would get more than enough exercise to stay in shape.
But this body-conscious bird appears to have found time to practice some chin-ups.
Or maybe it has simply lost confidence in its flying abilities and is hanging to the twig on a wing and a prayer.
Spotted on forestry commission land near Farnborough, Hampshire, this bird displays a stunning agility with its claws wrapped tightly around the wood.
And the strange looking position is in fact a regular part of the blue tits feeding strategy. Grahame Madge of the RSPB explained: "Blue tits are extremely agile and light weight birds and are very acrobatic feeders.
"They often hang upside down on branches to catch insects, and this is a very comfortable position for them to be in."
He added: "Around bird feeders, birds will wait for their turn to eat. There is a definite pecking order."
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503749&in_page_id=1770)
Last updated at 19:01pm on 20th December 2007
After a hard day's flying, you might think a blue tit would get more than enough exercise to stay in shape.
But this body-conscious bird appears to have found time to practice some chin-ups.
Or maybe it has simply lost confidence in its flying abilities and is hanging to the twig on a wing and a prayer.
Spotted on forestry commission land near Farnborough, Hampshire, this bird displays a stunning agility with its claws wrapped tightly around the wood.
And the strange looking position is in fact a regular part of the blue tits feeding strategy. Grahame Madge of the RSPB explained: "Blue tits are extremely agile and light weight birds and are very acrobatic feeders.
"They often hang upside down on branches to catch insects, and this is a very comfortable position for them to be in."
He added: "Around bird feeders, birds will wait for their turn to eat. There is a definite pecking order."
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503749&in_page_id=1770)
