Fat Bird Photography Guide- 2026

Winters here at our Hillsborough, NC based studio are generally mild.  But this year, we've had uncharacteristically large amounts of snow, ice, and very cold temperatures. 

Professionally, this weather has brought on a few hardships-- loss of childcare due to school closings, a shoulder injury from walking my 90 lb dog on icy roads, and a woman trying to pick up my husband in the space heater isle at the home depot. (True story: The HVAC in my studio abruptly broke so he had to devise a temporary solution, and in her defense my husband is a dreamboat.) 

But then again, there have also been some upsides. With all the downtime and cold weather, I've been able to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes-- fat bird photography. 

The goal of this activity is to see which of the birds in my yard are so puffed up they are more pom-pom shaped than bird shaped.  

I call this pine warbler "Ear Muffs"

This picture answers the question "What if a ping pong ball raised a judgmental eyebrow at you?"

Here you can see earmuffs striking a pose and looking disdainfully at me. 

This Wren looks like if a Tennis Ball could give you puppy eyes and beg to be let in the warm house. 

This White Throated Sparrow posses the question: How many circle and semicircle shapes can one bird create in a single composition?  

Ok in this photo Ear Muffs is getting pretty ridiculous, because she's literally posing with a snowflake for a crown.

If you want to capture some fat bird photos yourself, you'll need to gather the following materials: 

• Suet cake and a handy window
  
• A hot toddy, baileys, or otherwise cozy beverage
• Camera
• A craft project (I used block carving, but you could use a coloring book, knitting project, etc..) 

Now just sit and wait. Remember, your goal is to capture the most spherical bird shapes possible. If it is an oval or triangle-- you do not want it.  The bird's expression is also key here. Your birds should look like they are planning to steal your man at the home depot, which, come to think of it-- is exactly the sort of thing that Ear Muffs would do if she thought she could get any suet cake out of the deal. 

I hope y'all enjoy your photography sessions, and that you will tag me in all your fattest bird pics. In the meantime, my shoulder is healing, and the HAVC team is coming this week to restore heat to the studio. With any luck, I'll be able to crank out some new block prints soon! 

Love y'all,

Katie 

Above: Our studio pup, Ursa Major, Destroyer of Moles and Rotator Cuffs.