Winged Wednesday 3/4/2026: Faces Only a Mother Would Love

Eric Gofreed

Well-Known Member
Open Theme — Every Week

It’s Winged Wednesday—where feathers, flutters, and flight steal the show! Whether they’re soaring, skimming, stalking, or striking a pose… birds, bugs, bats, insects, or even airplanes—if it has wings, we want to see it. If it’s got wings, it belongs here.

This week my focus: Faces Only a Mother Would Love.

Not every bird is a swan. Some were assembled by evolution on a Friday afternoon.

Wrinkles. Warts. Bald patches. Expressions that suggest either deep wisdom or mild irritation.

Beauty, of course, is subjective.
But these birds make you work for it.



King Vulture headshot.jpg

King Vulture
Evolution: “Let’s try blue, orange, yellow, black, and red.”
Apparently… all at once.

Wood stork headshot.jpg

Wood Stork
Bald head, prehistoric bill, and the expression of a bird that has seen things… mostly fish.
Should I have said Prehistork ?


Trumpeter hornbill headshot.jpg

Trumpeter Hornbill
Massive bill, wrinkled face, glowing red eye… the sort of look that says, “I woke up like this, and frankly, I blame evolution.”


Angry Turkey.png

Wild Turkey
A riot of wattles, wrinkles, and unapologetic confidence. Proof that charisma does not require symmetry.


Muscovy Duck headshot.jpg

Muscovy Duck
A handsome duck everywhere except the face — where evolution apparently decided to experiment with bubble wrap.

Helmeted Friarbird headshot.jpg

Helmeted Friarbird
A face only a mother could love— and even she might ask evolution for a second opinion.
 
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AlanLichty

Moderator
Damn Eric - these specimens put the UGH in UGHly. Amazing collection and all in their worst^H^H^H^H^Hbest light too :cool:
 

Trent Watts

Well-Known Member
You really populated this topic with some doozies Eric. Can I say ‘Beautifully done’?

I have a couple that would qualify for ‘The Face’ theme and some that are just bedraggled from being in the rain.

Turkey Vulture
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Wild Turkey hens.
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Swainson's Hawk.
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Black-billed Magpie.
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American Crow.
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Eric Gofreed

Well-Known Member
You really populated this topic with some doozies Eric. Can I say ‘Beautifully done’?

I have a couple that would qualify for ‘The Face’ theme and some that are just bedraggled from being in the rain.

Turkey Vulture
View attachment 87804


Wild Turkey hens.
View attachment 87800

Swainson's Hawk.
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Black-billed Magpie.
View attachment 87802

American Crow.
View attachment 87803
Trent, those absolutely count — this week’s theme is “Faces Only a Mother Could Love.” Rain can make any bird look questionable, but the turkey and turkey vulture pretty much look that way thanks to evolution.
 
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