Birding Takes Flight in Fashion and Culture

A personal essay in Vogue chronicles the author's birding obsession, which began two years ago in Curaçao with a bananaquit rescue. The hobby has since expanded into a full-blown lifestyle, with bird feeders, motion-activated cameras, and sartorial choices inspired by feathers. The cultural moment is reflected in HBO's The Residence starring Uzo Aduba as a birder detective, the documentary Listers featuring Owen and Quentin Reiser, and Jeopardy contestant Michelle Tsai's pigeon sweater. The author discusses birding with Cara Delevingne, Emma Chamberlain, and Victoria Beckham, who shared stories of London's feral parakeets. Fashion designers have embraced avian motifs: Matthieu Blazy's Chanel couture featured sparrow and plume embroidery; Daniel Roseberry's Schiaparelli spring 2026 couture included silk feathers; Mohammad Ashi of Ashi Studio used peacock feathers. Ready-to-wear pieces from Altuzarra (goose overlay) and Tory Burch (beaded cardigan) are worn by the author in daily life. Vintage finds include a Miu Miu swallow-print mini from spring 2010 and an eBay alert for Alexander McQueen's spring 2008 collection dedicated to Isabella Blow. Studies show birdwatching improves mental health; the author finds joy in robins nesting in Prospect Park and a trumpeter swan spotted on Manhattan's East River for the first time.