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Bird of the Day, theme 'Downy Feathers'

natureAug 8, 20261415,380

Bird of the Day is running the theme Downy Feathers, prompting photos of birds showing soft, fluffy juvenile or molting plumage. Gallery entries lean toward close wildlife photography and portrait-style shots, with lots of ducklings and goslings, perched juveniles, and chicks in natural settings. Concrete examples include a killdeer chick wading along a pond shoreline in Longmont, Colorado, a baby Gambel's quail feeding under its watchful father, and an Eider duck chick captured on the Seahouses shoreline. Also look for a common merganser duckling, a Canada Goose gosling group, and a portrait of a black crowned night heron from last fall.

Alan H
@alan678.bsky.social

Good morning, Helen @helenbennett.bsky.social has said: Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DownyFeathers - any bird showing soft, fluffy down feathers. Alt #ShadesofPurple - any tone, hue or tint of purple on a birds plumage Fledgling Blue Tit #birds #photography #ECK #SmallBirdSaturday

A fledgling Blue Tit clings sideways to the slender green stem of a tall umbellifer, using its tiny feet to hold on while grasping a seed in one foot. Its fluffy yellow-green plumage, blue-grey wings and tail, and developing blue cap are visible against a smooth, blurred green background. The young bird’s delicate, acrobatic pose captures a charming moment as it appears to investigate or feed on the seed.
46910h ago
Neil Cameron4

I think that's not so much a tit as it is an out-and-out booorb. I bet you thought I was going to say something else... Fantastic image, Alan.

Atlantic Birding2

Amazing shot Alan; that Blue Tit does a good plank!!

Marjo Slingerland-Boks2

Morning Alan, that is a cutie and lovely photo 💛Have a fine day ✨️ 🤗

Justine Jones2

Great place for a snack, defying gravity too. Stunning as usual Alan 💚🤩

Yvonne Redknap2

I have never seen a cuter photo than this! It makes me smile. Beautiful,Alan. 😄

Graham Jones1

Borby fluffer. Great capture Alan.

Kort Duce
@kortduce.bsky.social

A killdeer chick pauses while wading along the shoreline of a pond at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #DownyFeathers #bird #birdphotography #ECK #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky #BirdsSeenln2026 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Photo by Kort Duce A killdeer chick pauses while wading along the shoreline of a pond at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical color photograph, a killdeer chick in left profile fills the frame as it wades along the water’s edge, its reflection visible beneath it. Most of the scene is composed of the pond’s calm surface, while the foreground reveals the muddy shoreline. The city is refilling the pond after nearly 18 months of construction along the pond bank. The shoreline was significantly relocated to widen St. Vrain Creek and increase its capacity to accommodate future flooding. This image captures a beautiful portrait of a young killdeer in its natural wetland habitat, an ecosystem vital to the species’ survival.
4353h ago
Link The Cat 🇨🇦2

It looks like he’s wearing a little wool tuque. 🫶

JackMcgraw 🇨🇦 2

I don't think it can kill a deer.

Vic1

Awesome! In Iowa we have lots of killdeer but I've never seen a chick!

Dray Wharton1

Great photo! Thanks for sharing it.

bobpop13.bsky.social1

Cuteness all the way, wonderful shot.

Mike Saunders 🇺🇦1

Oh, that's adorable! I need some shorebird chicks in my life.

Rina
@rina2012.bsky.social

Trying to get closer 🥰 "Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DownyFeathers - Alt: #ShadesofPurple" #birds #birding #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK #EastCoastKin

Two pigeons are standing close together on a grey, asphalted surface. The pigeon on the left has plumage that is almost entirely dark grey to black. The pigeon on the right has light grey plumage with a shimmering, violet neck ring. The bird on the left gently touches the other’s head, which looks like a kiss (courtship behaviour). The scene was photographed in bright daylight with visible shadows.
17310h ago
Dave Meredith
@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's alternative #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ShadesOfPurple (making me think of the album "Shades Of Deep Purple"). A raspberry red male Purple Finch. 😁 #BrucePeninsula #BruceCounty #ECK #photography #birds #nature #wildlife #TenMinutesFromHome #BackyardPhotography #VintageLens #ManualFocus

1847h ago
Helen Bennett 🌿2

What a beauty, great photo Dave. Ah, I know some Deep Purple albums but not that one! 😄

Jason1

The detail, colour and lighting are impeccable Dave 🤩👍🏼

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

That's a fine looking bird. 😍 Great photo, Dave. 👌

Atlantic Birding
@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 @helenbennett.bsky.social has chosen #DownyFeathers as #BirdOfTheDay theme. Alt. is #ShadesOfPurple I don’t know if this Grey Wagtail was making a fashion statement, moulting, brooding etc but looked like this for several days. #bird #birdphotography #ECK #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky

A Grey Wagtail in side profile standing on a wet tarmacadam surface. The bird is standing in the centre of the shot; facing right with its tail reaching to the left side of the shot. The bird has a grey head with a white stripe above the eye and whitish parts under the beak. Its upper parts are grey, turning to black at the flight and tail feathers. Its chest, belly and under the tail are yellow. The bird’s feathers are ruffled under and over the wings so that the soft, downy feather are sticking out and fluffy. The surface is covered in a thin layer of water and giving it a green/brown hue.
17610h ago
Neil Cameron3

I think we've all woken up looking that way... Great shot, AB.

Kathy💙2

Cool capture, Ian! Super cute, ruffled feathers and all.

Graham Jones2

Ready for the red carpet at the Oscars. Terrific photo AB.

Helen Bennett 🌿2

Wonderful image for the theme, it could be moulting... definitely a fashion statement! 👍😊 Thanks AB

Alan H1

Excellent shot AB. How cute is that. 👌🏼👌🏼

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

That is a wonderful photo AB maybe it would just show how beautiful he/she is 🤔💛

Amy Gann
@amygann.bsky.social

A baby gambel's quail pauses to eat under the watchful eye of its dad. For the #birdoftheday theme of #downyfeathers #birds #quail #gambelsquail #protectnature #EastCoastKin #babybird

A baby gambel's quail eats under the watchful eye of its dad
1439h ago
Dawn Photography1

What an interesting looking bird, how beautiful Amy 🤗💜

eddiephotos.bsky.social
@eddiephotos.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay One of my favourite heathland birds is the Dartford warbler.

#BirdOfTheDay One of my favourite heathland birds is the Dartford warbler.
1384h ago
Rob Crank Photography
@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. @helenbennett.bsky.social themes for #BirdOfTheDay are #DownyFeathers, any bird showing soft, fluffy down feathers. The Alt is #ShadesofPurple, any tone, hue or tint of purple on a bird's plumage. #birds #ECK @rspb.bsky.social #CanonR5mkii #ukbirding #birdphotography #BirdLife

Tulisa Tufted Duck heard a rumour about some upcoming trouble near where she and her ducklings reside, so she was heading off to book them and holiday so they weren't at home when the trouble arrives. But it wasn't going to be easy with her having 4 young ones in tow, but anything was better than being at home if a battle erupts. Captured at WWT Slimbridge.
1159h ago
Alan H2

Poor Carrie. Blooming Oystercatchers. Good mum and dad let her know what was happening Rob. I got so invested in that story. 😂😂😂 Great shots and alts mate.

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Aww what a lovely photos and wonderful Akts Rob✨️❤️

Diane Furlong1

Great captures and stories, Rob.

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Fabulous photos, Rob, with a reminder that for the newest birds on Earth there are many perils.

Lizzie Wallis1

Super shots, Rob. Love Tony, from the other side of the pond 🤣

Lorraine 🦆🦋🐝🦔🦊🌿1

Poor Alison 😔 Lovely photos, Rob

julielfrost.bsky.social
@julielfrost.bsky.social

Literally #DownyFeathers for today's #BirdOfTheDay. #Birds #Woodpeckers #Photography #Nature #Wildlife

A slightly disheveled downy woodpecker holds on to a branch against a green background.
1294h ago
SaraG
@hardlikearmour.bsky.social

Perhaps you needed to see a Peachick? 🪶 #BirdOfTheDay #DownyFeathers

An Indian Peafowl chick facing the camera looking both sweet and curious. Its feathers are still mixed with lots of down. It's just starting to develop its topknot.
10612h ago
Helen Bennett 🌿2

It's absolutely adorable!! 👏👏 I did need to see a Peachick, thank you! Great photo, Sara ✨️

Alan H1

What a cutie. Great shot Sara. 😍😍

Justine Jones1

Yes, I needed to see this! 💚😍💚 Thank you for sharing.

✮: 🎀 𝒥𝒶𝓃𝑒 🎀 :✮
@janesgallery.bsky.social

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay Alt: #ShadesofPurple - any tone, hue or tint of purple on a birds plumage. @helenbennett.bsky.social Rock Pigeon #BirdPhotography #Birds #Nature #BirdWatching #ECK

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), specifically a variant featuring pied or leucistic plumage, characterized by a white head and dark body.The brilliant green and violet colors on the neck are iridescent, created by thin-film interference in the feather structure rather than pigment
10311h ago
Helen Bennett 🌿1

What a smart looking rock pigeon... great pose and perfect for the theme! Thanks Jane 👏💜😊

SeaLevelOslo
@sealeveloslo.bsky.social

Maybe their eggs were golden too. Five goslings swimming by in the evening sun. #BirdOfTheDay #DownyFeathers 🪶 #birds #gosling #photography #BlueSkyArtShow #water

Five goslings lit up by the evening sun swim in a line on the sea. Gentle ripples caused by wind makes the water mix light blue reflections from the sky with dark reflections from land.
974h ago
Aintright
@aintright.bsky.social

A Canada Goose gosling #BirdOfTheDay #DownyFeathers #BirdPhotography #Birds #Nature #BirdWatching #ECK

998h ago
Direct Luminosity1

Geese are so misunderstood. I love them personally.

Lyndy Lambert
@lyndyphotos.bsky.social

Juvenile great egrets showing their #DowneyFeathers in the early morning light at #Wakodahatchee Wetlands, #Florida. #BirdOfTheDay #EastCoastKin #birds

9311h ago
Alan H1

So so beautiful. Fabulous shot Lyndy.

PacBirds
@pacbirds.bsky.social

A common merganser duckling for the #DownyFeathers theme of #BirdOfTheDay. #birds #nature #photography #ECK

Merganser duckling, with shades of brown on the back, neck, and top of head and white on front, sits on a rock at the water’s edge.
1027h ago

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