Fluffed Feathers
Whether it’s because of a strong wind or just primping time, a bird’s fluffed feathers creates a whole different perspective on how we see it. Here are some examples below. I highly recommend clicking on any image to view it larger.
Eagles
These bald eagles got “caught’ with ruffled feathers. Note that the eagle on the bottom was carrying new nesting material and had stopped to rest on the pole. The bald eagle in the middle top row is a juvenile bald eagle with its somewhat mottled feather appearance (juveniles don’t get the traditional black and white feathers until about 5 years of age).
Egrets
Egrets have beautiful white feathers that long ago were treasured as feathers for hats before thankfully being outlawed just before the Egret would have become an extinct species. We can still see their feathers in crazy motion without having to pluck them such as in these examples below.
Herons
Left - Great Blue Heron with feathers lifted. I don’t know why but this always makes me smile as if it is carefully lifting its pant legs.
Right - This Black-Crowned Night Heron vigorously shook himself off after a dip in the water.
Ducks
Ducks aren’t always thought off as having “flashy feathers” but I beg to differ. Here is a variety of ducks showing off their fluffed feathers. And this is one time (at least) when it’s good to break the unwritten rule of bird photography to never photograph them from the back. As you will see, their outer feathers as seen only from the rear are the ones that tend to have more color and pattern.
Below - This Northern Shoveler was coming in with its wings “full flap” to stick the landing.
Below - A Hooded Merganser jumped up and displayed its wingspread for me.
Below - This Mallard also was coming in for a landing at “full flap”
Below - Male Wood Ducks have stunning feathers from any angle but I especially appreciated his outstretched wings in this shot.
Below - This Canvasback duck gave me a “full frontal” view.
Below - A slightly different perspective of the Canvasback duck.
Other Birds
Right - A sure sign of Spring here in Colorado is the return of the Bluebirds. Saw this one last week so here comes Spring! This image will go into the “Fluffed Feathers” gallery.
Right - This Horned Grebe fluffed itself after diving in the water
Right - I watched this Blue Jay preen himself for about 20 minutes after he had taken a dip in a lake
