Puffball
In the air, swallows have a sleek, aerodynamic shape designed for close maneuvering so they can catch insects in flight. You’d never know it from looking at this little puffball, with his feathers puffed out he gives a false impression of being rather plump. Many birds will do this when they are cold to create pockets of warm air, much like a hiker dressing in layers.
Tags: barn swallow, birds, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington