before i say anything – let’s look at parlor rollers.
(x)
pretty normal. very pretty bird, but nothing that screams unusual or crazy.
and then…
they do that.
parlor rollers, also sometimes known as parlor tumblers, are a breed of ‘rolling’ pigeon. other rollers are typically bred to do ‘somersaults’ in the air. parlor rollers have been bred to not be able to fly entirely. instead, they just kind of…flip over.
it’s not entirely proven why they do this. nobody has been able to find a physical problem that inhibits them from being able to fly. they have good bone structure and body shape, and their wings are properly developed. a common theory is there is a defect within the parts of their brain that control balance.
there are ‘parlor rolling competitions’ where competitors roll their birds, often tossing them to get them started like in the gifs above. the bird that rolls the farthest wins. the current record for a parlor roller’s roll is 662 feet and 3 inches!
(note: personally, i don’t think it’s right to breed birds intentionally to lose the ability to fly, nor do i condone tossing your bird like you’re bowling with it.)
today's bird 