Feather Brained Bird

The other morning I was sitting at my computer when I saw a flash of red in the driveway.

Looking, I saw this strange looking bird.

I grabbed my camera so I could use the telephoto for a closer look.

WHAT was it?!

It was twisting around and fussing/crying out and picking at itself.  And what is the deal with its tail??

On another twist he got his tail straightened out.  Other than a few bent feathers it seemed fine.  And then I spotted the cause of his issues.  See that big black ant on the bottom right of the picture?  There was a whole swarm of them along the top of the railroad tie.  As he was eating them, others were biting the daylights out of him!

I was afraid that something was wrong with him and he couldn't get away from the ants so I sent Himself out to check on him.  He flew off as Himself approached.

The only thing wrong with that bird was a bad case of stupid!

  

I'd never seen such unique coloring.  Look at that 'maple leaf' on his belly!

It wasn't until I discovered this illustration did I figure out he was a young male Summer Tanager.

What an airhead bird!