When I was a boy, I had hair that would stand up in a cowlick and refuse to lie flat, and that’s what I immediately thought of when I saw this Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) with frizzy feathers.
My Mom’s solution to my hair problem was a little saliva on her fingers that she would apply to my hair and smooth it down.
I thought of doing the same to this little bird, but I am not sure that it would appreciate my efforts.
Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
It adds a little character, just like your hair did.
Yes, but it has been quite some time since I had enough hair to have a cowlick.
I have not participated in a discussion of cowlicks since Alfalfa and Our Gang ruled American TV…I still have enough hair to have a cowlick.
I loved the Little Rascals and, in fact, Alfalfa was one of my favorites.
Our Gang… haha… my great aunt had a regular guest spot on that show. She wrote something about it in her family memoirs… her name was Junie I think.
I just did a fact check- she was a nameless extra on the show. She played some small parts including a hula girl.
I still have a cowlick and every time I get a haircut it seems more prominent than ever.
#1 Awesome bird photo. That takes skill AND patience.
#2 You always make me chuckle
#3 My cowlick story- I grew up on a farm – so when my mom said that my brother had a cowlick, in my own little head I just assumed he stood too close to the pasture fence and an actual cow licked his hair. I didn’t actually say this out loud to anyone (why clarify a simple known fact?) until I was about 10 or 11 and it occurred to me that it might not really have been a cow-so I held onto that belief for a good 5 years or so…
Ah, the innocence of youth. As a suburban kid, I’m not sure I would have been able to identify a cow.
Great story and photo. I still use your moms method 🙂
It works and it’s cheap. How can your argue with that?
Great photo, Mike! I like his frizzy hair 🙂
Me too! There is something utterly adorable about that look.