Most human observers cannot accurately “read” a bird’s face.
So, the “quirkiness” of a particular bird species – or the “quirkiness” of a particular bird’s appearance/demeanour at a particular moment – is usually all about human perception/misperception.
Typically, it has little or no informed connection to the bird’s actual nature/intent/emotional state.
That said, to this human observer at least, the pictured individual looked marvellously quirky at 6.29 pm on 20 February 2023.
Both of us were on the shoreline of India’s longest lake, shortly before darkness fell.
Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken in Kumarakom, beside Vembanad Lake in Kerala.
The bird is an Indian pond heron or paddy bird, Ardeola grayii,
They are widespread throughout India, which is home to nine species of heron.
Click here for a very nicely-illustrated overview/appreciation of all nine.