Bird Lands On Matt Lauer's Head On 'Today' (VIDEO)

"Today" co-host Matt Lauer got an unexpected surprise on his head on Tuesday morning.

Lauer and co-host Ann Curry were doing a segment about exotic animals when a scarlet ibis bird flew around the studio and landed squarely on Lauer's head.

The studio broke into laughter as the bird flew towards Lauer, who exclaimed, "Oh no!" But the co-host took the surprise in stride, allowing the bird to stay on his head. He protested only when someone reached out to feed it. He said, "That thing has sharp claws!"

The animalkeeper's response? She said, "That's a common perch." Lauer later added, "He mistook me for a turtle."

The cameras helpfully zoomed in close to Lauer's head to show just how much the bird was sinking its claws into him.

PHOTO:

Curry joked, "Do we have enough Purell in the house for this?" referring to Lauer's fastidious (or obsessive, take your pick) use of the hand sanitizer.

WATCH:

Comments

[offred]

07:54 PM on 08/10/2011

Poor bird couldn't get any traction on Matt's dome.

[Stephen Thorpe]

05:18 PM on 08/10/2011

This is the programming for house wives and mothers. Shows the intellect of those demographics by what the network provides as content.

[offred]

07:55 PM on 08/10/2011

You do realized that you've offended housewives and mothers, right? A lot of people, male and female, of all ages watch morning shows. If the viewers were really dumb they'd be watching a court show or Jerry Springer.

[Stephen Thorpe]

09:33 PM on 08/17/2011

Sorry, some call it the dumbing down or America.

[pthesmith]

02:00 PM on 08/10/2011

Characteristic of the scarlet ibis, the bird was trying to nest in Lauer's "man-grove."

[heroine addict]

11:57 AM on 08/10/2011

Great moment in live broadcast! Lauer's professionalism is highlighted in how he handled it.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:10 AM on 08/10/2011

He's a trooper!

[MamandesFilles]

10:44 PM on 08/09/2011

Owww. Poor Matt

[wotcanisay]

07:52 PM on 08/09/2011

Requires guts and considerable self confidence to be able to continue speaking normally with a bird on one's head.

Imagine the thoughts running through Matt's head - will it crap on my shoulder? Ouch, those talons CAN scratch!.....

[mfoto1986]

10:00 PM on 08/09/2011

LOL I was thinking the exact same thing--- ohh snap, its gonna crap on his head or shoulder lol

[stape45]

07:32 PM on 08/09/2011

Trying to hatch it, I guess.

[ebanks84]

07:12 PM on 08/09/2011

That was too funny. And the bird kept sliding off as well because of Matt's slick head :).

[Weeweed Up]

05:12 PM on 08/09/2011

Bird Brain

[JumpySnark]

04:43 PM on 08/09/2011

The Bird is the Word.

[WarrenPease]

05:43 PM on 08/09/2011

I'm never gonna do it without the fez on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a98umoWh7VU

[JumpySnark]

05:56 PM on 08/09/2011

OMG!! F&F. You're my hero for remembering this...
Also too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184

[WarrenPease]

06:45 PM on 08/09/2011

Thanks! Here's another one, for the lid on the dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q71gvV9n9Cs

[wowme]

03:53 PM on 08/09/2011

That's where the bird do the doo doo

[laughingcynic]

03:52 PM on 08/09/2011

Did it fertilize what hair he has?

[OutAtFirst]

03:00 PM on 08/09/2011

I wonder how many of those expensive hair plugs were yanked out when the bird left.

[beyondliberal]

02:52 PM on 08/09/2011

My cockatoo spends quite a bit of time on my head if she's allowed to have her way. Birds like to perch on the highest object available.

[offred]

07:58 PM on 08/10/2011

So do cats. I've had cats that draped themselves around my neck and stayed there while I moved around.