Morning Bird Pic

[sleigh]

This is a grackle all fluffed up, which makes it look nothing like the usual sleek and smooth bird it is. I'm not sure why the fluffing: the other day I watched a grackle land on a branch near another grackle, and fluff up just like this. The other bird moved away a bit, and the grackle sidled along the branch until it was close again, then did the fluffing bit once more.

I don't know if that was flirting or aggression. Presumably, the grackles understand the difference... though sometimes humans seem to fail to make the distinction, sadly.