'Headless' penguins illusion goes viral

Take a quick look at these penguins and you’ll notice something a little odd.

They’re mid-way through their grooming routine, and thanks to the impeccable timing of this photo, three of the beautiful birds appear to be completely headless.

Contrary to what you may think, their heads are actually in tact and just bent around the side of their bodies as they preen their feathers to ensure they are clean and as waterproof as possible.

The process starts with the penguins getting any dirt or water out of their feathers, before they use their bill to rub natural oils through their feathers.

They have a gland near their tails that produces oil, so in the preening process they reach over and distribute it throughout the rest of their bodies.

It’s a simple and regular process for them, but it’s made for an amazing optical illusion for us.

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