Like Their Distant Cousins The Corvids, Royal Flycatchers Are Also Tool-users. Unlike Crows And Ravens

Like their distant cousins the Corvids, Royal Flycatchers are also tool-users. Unlike crows and ravens however, Royal Flycatchers use their beaks and talons to fashion elaborate headgear in an effort to become the ‘top dog’ of the flycatcher world. The more resplendent the crown, the higher status of the bird.

One of the most bizarre adaptations in the animal kingdom belongs to the humble Seagull. Where other birds are driven by the Four Fs, Seagulls possess a perfect awareness of how fleeting and meaningless their lives are. This allows them to harass beachgoers and steal food without any regrets whatsoever, although on occasion you may find one struggling to cope with a universe that is both unfeeling and eternal.

Prized for the soft, marrow-like flesh in its ‘horn’, the Cassowary is native to the forests of Northeastern Australia. These vibrant turkeys live on a diet primarily of fruit which gives their horn-meat a light, delicate flavour reminiscent of the fruits the bird ate in life. Unfortunately, this frugivorous diet also makes their eggs a sweet treat for any feral hogs in the area, so Cassowaries are an endangered species.

Reblogging for Daytime Americans because no, seriously DO NOT. MESS. WITH THIS BIRD. I cannot stress enough how incredibly deadly the Gross Blue Heron is in close quarters and doubly so for people with restricted movement due to Halloween costumes. They are relentless and fully aware that they are protected by both the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so you have very few legal recourses should you fight back.

/!\ DO NOT APPROACH THIS BIRD /!\

This is a Gross Blue Heron, one of the most vile and disgusting birds to stalk the Earth. Over the past few weeks there have been seven confirmed fatalities of small children and under-informed dogs who have mistaken these fell beasts for Great Blue Herons in fancy dress for Halloween. When you are out and about trick-or-treating this year please be wary and change your route should you encounter one; losing out on full-size candy is a small price to pay for keeping your innards from becoming outards.

Having never developed feathercare technology, Snowy Egrets live with a perpetual case of bedhead. Unfortunately for these ruffled wading birds other species refuse to loan out combs, brushes, and oils to properly style their feathers. Theories as to why range from simple impracticality (hummingbird feathercare tools are grossly inadequate) to other birds just being massive assholes (ducks).

With a storied history of warfare, Gorgeted Blue Herons are so named for the protective ‘ruff’ covering their breastbone. Fossil records imply these now-decorative feathers were once much heavier and interwoven, so as to deflect or soften otherwise lethal blows to the sternum. While it is true these fierce warriors can still be found engaged in brutal combat, the nature of conflict has changed to a decidedly non-lethal approach, thus reducing the gorget to a largely decorative role.