Although it’s just the surface of what we can appreciate about birds, the astounding variety of colorful plumage in the avian world is easy to admire. So if you’re in the market for your next Halloween costume—or just looking to shake up your wardrobe—look no further than birds. Here are three easy tips from Denver Audubon communications manager Dori Edwards, whose avian-inspired ensembles are a hit with birders online.
Start with a species you love and decide what pops when you look at it, Edwards says. Note the features you might point out to a birding novice or that would help you make the ID and choose articles of clothing to evoke them. “Where do my eyes go to? Where are my eyes drawn to on the bird?” she explains. On a Mallard, for example, Edwards is drawn to the duck’s rugged-looking leathery feet and thinks: bright orange combat boots.
Another approach: Reverse-engineer your outfit by starting with a statement piece of clothing that you already own. With around 11,000 bird species worldwide, “you can learn about more for the rest of your life,” Edwards says—and find one to match any hue or pattern. She used this strategy with a bright green cardigan covered with small white polka dots. A quick web search for the pattern and “bird” turned up the Green Catbird, an Australian bowerbird species.
A cheap multipack of colored sunglasses, bandannas, or hats can help you assume the identity of countless species. Red shades, for instance, could set you up to emulate a Common Loon, Roseate Spoonbill, or Phainopepla, among many others. “If you have, like, five different-colored beanies,” Edwards says, “you can probably be 1,000 different birds.”
With these basic pointers, you can keep things subtle for everyday dressing or pile on the accessories for a party-worthy costume. Keep a curious mind as you bird and move through the world, Edwards says, you'll have no shortage of ideas. “What makes you feel inspired?” she says. “Let that guide you.”
This story originally ran in the Fall 2026 issue as “Dress Up.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.
