Birdland: All Puffed Up

In a delightful display of lyricism, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the Vermilion Flycatcher as  “a feathered ember in a desert landscape.” Most flycatchers are rather drab, but this little bird is a brilliant exception. As if the male’s bright colors were not advertisement enough, he also displays by puffing up his feathers and fluttering high in the air while singing repeatedly. Vermilion Flycatchers are common in Central and South America and in parts of the Southwest, where they can be spotted on exposed perches. Photo by Mark Silverstein