Kym Beechey was enjoying a peaceful hike through Popran National Park in Australia, camera in hand, snapping photos of wildflowers and taking in the natural beauty around her. As she wandered along the trail, she was hopeful she might catch a glimpse of some wildlife, though she usually misses the chance to photograph fast-moving birds.
That day, however, her luck seemed to change when she spotted what appeared to be a tiny, cheerful bird perched calmly on a branch. It resembled a baby tawny frogmouth, an owl-like bird known for its wide, expressive face, and even seemed to be smiling.
Excited, Kym quickly pulled out her phone and zoomed in to capture a close-up of the bird. But as she examined the photo more closely, something didn’t seem right. The “bird” wasn’t moving at all, and that smile appeared a bit too perfect.
That’s when Kym realized the truth—it wasn’t a bird at all. It was actually a banksia pod!
These unique seed pods grow on banksia trees, native to parts of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. From a distance, they can look strikingly like animals or, in this case, a smiling bird. While resembling pine cones, banksia pods come from completely different trees and can vary in size and shape depending on the species.
Kym may not have captured the wildlife photo she was hoping for, but she walked away with a quirky shot and a good laugh.
