The shopkeeper suggests that the parrot is homesick. The customer responds by going, pining for the fields. What kind of talk is that? Why did it fall flat on its back when at the moment I brought it home? So as soon as it got it home, the parrot just fell flat on itsback. Flat on its back. That's quite a nice expression. If you fall flat on your back, it means you just fall completely on the ground. Yeah, the Norwegian blue prefers keeping on its back - they're beautiful birds.