Welcome to Fluffed Up Birds.
Birds fluff up for many reasons.
1) They may be cold. Then this helps them stay warm.
2) They may be hot. Then this helps them cool down.
3) They may be excited. Then this helps them appear larger, and thus more impressive or more frightening.
4) They may be stretching. Then this helps them feel good.
5) They may be acting like a bird. Then this helps them cause confusion in human observers.
When I searched through my files to create this article, I found only a few photos of fluffed up birds each year.
Then, on my next outing, I noticed that birds fluff up often. So now I’m being more alert for fluffed up birds.
Note: I put links to other articles and blog posts that show photos of these birds.
American Dipper, Fluffed up to Stay Warm in Zion National Park
Also see: Niche Market Fable
Light-footed Ridgeway’s Rail, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, CA
Also see: Watchlist Birds
California Towhee, Who Seemed to Be Excited
Also see: Good Bird –|– Don’t Cry for Me, Audubon –|– Connection With Life
Canada Goose Gosling, Naturally Fluffed Up
Also see: Feathers Make the Goose –|– Visit Your Local Park –|– The Joy of Photographing Details
Long-billed Curlew, Central Coast, CA
Also see: Watchlist Birds
Common Raven, Staying Cool on a Hot Day
Also see: Beyond Black –|– Shudder at These Spooky Birds
Curve-billed Thrasher, Who Fluffed Up for This Photo
European Starling, Fluffed up to Join the Show
Also see: Before You Go Back to Work
Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco, on Snow in Zion National Park
Bushtit, Female – These small birds almost always appear disheveled (fluffed up).
Great Blue Heron Showing Off
Also see: Gular Fluttering Is for the Birds
Hooded Oriole, Male, Staying Cool on a Hot Day
Also see: Are Birds Happy?
Juniper Titmouse, December in Zion National Park
Mourning Dove, Acting Like a Bird
Also see: Winter Tribute –|– Odd Gifts Everyone Keeps –|– Birds Are Business Experts –|– Celebrate Ordinary
Northern Mockingbird, Demonstrating a Partial Fluff
Also see: The Bird Who Knew Too Much
Western Bluebird, Female, Looking Extra Pretty by Fluffing Up
Also see: Meet the Western Bluebird –|– Wonderful Success Story –|– Conversation With a Bird
White-crowned Sparrow, 1st Year Juvenile, December in San Antonio, NM
Also see: Ordinary Courage –|– Song of Courage
The Fluffed Up Birds thank you for visiting.
See more bird photos at: Bird Photos
Did You Know?
The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.
Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.
Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.
