Seagull Puts On A Private Tap-Dancing Show For A Very Confused Sheep

Interspecies friendships can be fascinating — and funny. Alongside the synergy being precious, watching two different kinds of animals interact can also leave you chuckling and wondering, "What are they thinking here?" Well, if you live for moments like that, you have to watch this Instagram video featuring a seagull putting on a private tap-dancing show for a bewildered sheep on a farm. 

"Steve the sheep is absolutely mesmerized by Steven Seagal doing his little foot tappies in the water 🐑 We can't cope with these two 😭," reads the clip's caption, as the placid sheep intently watches the hyperactive bird tapping its feet on the concrete. "The sheep is just watching him like bro what are u doing 😂," noted one commenter at the end, as others swooped in to explain that what the seagull was doing is very normal for the bird, who's apparently just trying to conjure up some fresh worms. In the end, though, we should all take it as another pure moment in interspecies friendships!

Seagulls sometimes look like they're throwing a tap-dancing party on the beach (or, in the Instagram video's case, on the cement), rapidly tapping and shuffling their feet against the ground. But aside from being funny, those little dance moves — called foot paddling — are actually a clever way to find meals, as it helps gulls uncover worms and other small creatures hiding under the earth. As seagulls stomp their feet, they send vibrations through the ground that resemble the sound and movement that worms associate with rain or even danger. So, when a worm senses it, it may crawl upward toward the surface, where a hungry bird is waiting.

This trick isn't limited to just seagulls, though, as other animals use vibrations and movement to help locate hidden food, like other types of birds and even some turtles. For gulls, though, the technique is especially handy on soft soil or sandy beaches where worms are tucked away — of course, not so much on cement. The next time you spot a seagull doing a little dance, pay attention to whether it indeed catches its dinner or is just left entertaining passersby!

Want to see other animals doing a little dance? Check out these cats having the best dance party ever, and this border collie's dance routine with his mom.