Beim Vorhalten einer präparierten Eule verhält sich der Wendehals gemäß seinem Namen und versucht durch Drehen und Wenden des Kopfes und gelegentlich schnelle Attacken den vermeintlichen Feind abzuwehren.

The film shows the defensive behaviour of a young wryneck known as "snake mimicry", initiated by display of an owl's skin. The wryneck moves neck and head in a snakelike manner backwards and forwards, sometime with short darting movements only to withdraw again immediately. The bird is shown from various perspectives in order to better display his movements.