It’s one of the best things about this time of year. The birds get all dressed up.
Well, some of them do. Quite a few of our birds don’t have a whole lot in the breeding plumage area. But the colours do tend to get a bit sharper. Or maybe it’s just the fact that everything else is still just getting out of winter mode that makes them seem that way.
But the cardinals seem a bit redder. Blue jays a bit bluer. Finches a bit more gold or purple, depending on what they are. But they all seem to be dressed to impress this time of year. And it is that time of year. Mating season. So they have to look good. Even the ones that don’t have an actual “breeding plumage”.
Yesterday, while out for a walk with the dog, I came across a pair of wood ducks. They are not something I see a lot of. In spite of the fact that others have put out duck boxes in the area for a number of years, they don’t seem to be exactly knocking down the doors of these potential houses.
Seeing ducks is not uncommon. Seeing brightly coloured ducks is a bit more uncommon.
While a female wood duck does have a bit of colour along the wing, the male really jumps out at you. He really does have himself dressed well. Even that special looking haircut is meant to get attention. They are a special looking bird.
But I’ve been thinking that about a lot of them lately. A flock of cedar waxwings came through the other day. They were also looking pretty good. Not the colour of a wood duck, but for some reason they give the impression of being very well groomed. Not a feather out of place.
I guess it’s the time of year. Everyone looks like they’re getting all dressed up for prom. I guess in a way they are.
