david korte photographs

Perching on a wire above the street, a lone Plantain-eater, preening feathers along her back, stopped to assess any potential threat as I approached on my walk with Elle. Apparently neither of us posed sufficient danger, and she resumed her morning ritual, the ruffling and smoothing, straightening wing primaries and sorting tail feathers, occasionally returning my attention with a look resembling curiosity.

Not long after, another bird arrived and appeared to engage in a display of communication by body language, tipping on the wire, fanning his tail, eventually moving closer to deliver a peck with that sturdy yellow beak. Soon the first bird began to show some annoyance, crouched low to the wire and launched herself airborne to disappear over the neighboring rooftop.