11 Grumpy Bird Pictures to Turn Your Frown Upside-Down

These birds woke up on the wrong side of the nest! Laugh at grumpy bird photos of burrowing owls, northern cardinals, blue jays and more.

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Courtesy Sujata Roy

Not a Winter Weather Fan

“I spotted this male pine warbler sitting on a branch with a grumpy bird pose. It snowed the day before, and it was still cold and windy. Pine warblers can be seen more around our region in winter. There were three of them last year around my yard, and this one was not liked by the other two. It just sat grumpily waiting its turn at the suet feeder,” says Sujata Roy.

After you’re done laughing at grumpy bird photos, keep the laughter going with funny bird photos that’ll make any bird lover laugh.

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Courtesy Rick Bodette

The Grumpy Bird Stare Down

““You lookin’ at me?” Here’s a gorgeous male northern cardinal getting breakfast from my feeder,” says Rick Bodette.

Attract your own grumpy cardinal with these cardinal feeding tips.

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Courtesy Belle Shuler

An Unwelcome Visitor

“This burrowing owl looked not so happy to have a snail cruising on its head. But its facial expression was quite priceless!” says Belle Shuler.

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Courtesy Richard Alvarnaz

A Loud and Grumpy Blackbird

“I captured this shot of a male red-winged blackbird singing from a grass stem at the edge of a stream in a local park. I’d seen many males making their courtship calls in this area. The picture stood out to me because the blackbird was facing me head-on and had his tail feathers fanned out in a beautiful display,” says Richard Alvarnaz.

Red-winged blackbirds aren’t the only blackbirds you should know—discover other notable members of the blackbird family.

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Courtesy Heather Rothe

Privacy Please!

“My husband had a deck built in our backyard so I’d have a place to sit and enjoy the birds. Every evening I put out peanuts for the blue jays that visit my feeders. On this particular night I had gotten my camera just before one of the blue jays went for a bath. I loved the expression— it appears as though the jay wanted privacy during bath time and gave me some side eye,” says Heather Rothe.

These funny animal pictures will make you smile.

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Courtesy Don Ellis

All Ruffled Up

“I have a koi pond with a stream in my backyard, and I love taking photos of the many birds that splash in and drink from them. This one shows a robin right after it played in the water. Wet, fluffed feathers and all, it was giving me quite the look,” says Don Ellis.

For happier birds, check out these cheerful robin bird pictures.

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Courtesy Dan Zankman

Strike a Pose

“This little blue heron was a new visitor to a local refuge. In its immature form, it’s white, not blue. It seemed to be expressing dissatisfaction—perhaps dinner was not ready on time!” says Dan Zankman.

Love this long-legged youngster? Learn more about wading birds.

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Courtesy Hank Ohme

Snap It Quick!

“A good friend of mine came out to look for kinglets. About midafternoon, I spotted this male golden-crowned kinglet in a thicket. Out of all the photos I shot, only one frame caught him motionless! He looks a little upset at me, but he displayed his crown very well,” says Hank Ohme.

Not all kinglets are in bad moods—learn more about these delightful birds.

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Courtesy Rebecca Grant

Grumpy Baby Bird

“When I went outside to sit on my backyard swing to watch for birds, this young mockingbird was waiting for me. I think it’s a little grumpy because I interrupted playtime,” says Rebecca Grant of Hahira, Georgia.

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Courtesy Doug Gaudette

Grumpy Bird at the Suet Feeder

“I made a suet log, with 2-inch holes drilled and filled with suet, that attracts a variety of birds. On this particular day, a male northern cardinal seemed upset that he wasn’t the only visitor. Eventually the smaller bird, a juvenile brown-headed cowbird, took off and left the cardinal to enjoy his snack,” says Doug Gaudette.

You won’t want to miss these simply stunning cardinal bird pictures.

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Courtesy Richard Hayhurst

Whooo Goes There?

“We were wintering in Florida when a childhood pal and his wife told us about these burrowing owls. We took a long drive and, sure enough, there they were, cute as could be, sitting in a field that was marked to protect them. The locals had put up a sign that said “Romeo and Juliet,” which gave us a good laugh,” says Richard Hayhurst.

Next, learn fun facts about owls you should know.

Emily Hannemann
Emily Hannemann is an associate digital editor for Birds & Blooms. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in magazine writing from the University of Missouri - Columbia. When she’s not writing and editing, you’ll find her swimming, running, or hiking. She knows blue jays are controversial, but she loves them anyway.