Shape-shifting flock of starlings recreate 100-year-old 'duck-rabbit' illusion in the sky in astonishing footage

  • Degs Brown caught incredible 'duck-rabbit' illusion created by flock of starlings
  • He filmed scene, near Gretna in Scotland, on his mobile phone last Wednesday
  • Flock appeared to mimic famous 1892 image used as psychological exercise  

By FAITH RIDLER FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

This is the astonishing moment the centuries-old 'duck-rabbit' illusion was created in the sky by a flock of starlings over Scotland.  

Degs Brown caught the incredible formation on his mobile phone last Wednesday when he spotted the birds fly overhead just before sunset.

The starlings appear to simultaneously form the shape of both a rabbit and a duck like the famous 1892 image, which was used as a psychological exercise through the 19th and 20th century.

The flock creates the 'duck-rabbit' illusion in the sky near Gretna in Scotland last Wednesday

The flock creates the 'duck-rabbit' illusion in the sky near Gretna in Scotland last Wednesday

Spotted near Gretna, Scotland, the rare picture was captured as Mr Brown filmed the starlings weaving through the sky on his mobile phone.

Mr Brown, a car salesman, had been out taking pictures of the landscape when he said he was able to anticipate the unique outline forming and take the video. 

The photographer, from Carlisle, Cumbria, said: 'I got very lucky. It's hard to describe how I felt capturing that.

'The starlings stayed in this shape for literally a second. They were going through a shape of the rabbit then made random shapes.

The murmuration dips and swirls in the blue sky as it slips in and out of the centuries-old illusion

The murmuration dips and swirls in the blue sky as it slips in and out of the centuries-old illusion

The flock then settles into the astonishing formation for a few seconds, captured in smartphone footage

The flock then settles into the astonishing formation for a few seconds, captured in smartphone footage

'I live close to where the starlings roost once a year and I've seen the formations and you can see funny shapes but obviously capturing them is quite hard.

'Looking from behind the camera I could see the shape forming so I thought I'd better catch it in that brief moment.

'I guess it's just a lucky photograph of a rabbit in the sky.'

Mr Brown uses his phone, rather than his professional kit, to take pictures while out exploring, finding it easier to carry.

He said: 'I love nature and I'm in the Lakes twice a week taking portraits of mountains and lakes.

Degs Brown, a car salesman from Carlisle in Cumbria, captured the astonishing scene on his smartphone 

Degs Brown, a car salesman from Carlisle in Cumbria, captured the astonishing scene on his smartphone 

'I tend to be in the Lakes mostly as I'm climbing the Wainwrights at the moment. I usually take pictures of the hills and mountains, not wildlife.

'I've been doing photography on an amateur level for two or three years, but because I do a lot of climbing it's easier taking my phone up because of the equipment.

'I own a Nikon DSLR but this was taken on a mobile phone. I took this at around 4.15pm - just as the sun was going down.

'I've got a lot of it on the video and I managed to take a snap at the same time. The reaction has been amazing.

'You'd never expect to get pictures of that quality on a mobile phone.'

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