Fluffy Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Today's photo is a male ruby throated hummingbird fluffing up his feathers while preening to clean and straighten his feathers. He does this to remove dust, debris and parasites and to keep all the feathers pointing in the right direction. This makes him more aerodynamic and makes flying easier.

Sometimes birds fluff up their feathers to keep warm. Fluffing the feathers traps air between the layers of feathers insulating their body from the cold.

This photo been digitally edited for an illustration in a storybook.