This image depicts a series of three photographs, each one showing a girl with a large black bird perched on her head. The bird appears to be lifting its wings, which gives it an imposing, somewhat menacing presence. In the first photo, the girl looks surprised or shocked, her hand partially covering her mouth as if she is gasping. The color contrast between the bird's dark plumage and the girl's lighter hair and skin tone emphasizes the unexpected guest on her head.
The comedic value of the image is enhanced by the sequence of the photos and the captions underneath each one. The initial caption, presumably by the person who took the photos, says, "a bird landed on my girlfriends head," introducing the humorous incident. The bottom part of the image features an added comment by a different user, stating, "that ain't no bird that is an omen of death," which serves as the punchline by dramatically exaggerating the nature of the event.
The humor in this image arises from the play on cultural and superstitious associations with large black birds. In many cultures, black birds, especially ones that resemble ravens or crows, are often considered symbols of bad luck or harbingers of misfortune. The hyperbolic statement likening the bird to "an omen of death" exploits these associations for comic effect, suggesting that the bird's mere presence is overly portentous.
Moreover, the incongruity between the girl's expression and the exaggerated comment contributes to the humor. The girl does not seem truly terrified but rather just shocked. The commenter's likening of the bird to an ominous figure plays on this disconnect, offering a humorous interpretation that clearly doesn't match her actual reaction, thereby inviting the audience to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
The setting of the photo series also plays a part in the humor. It looks like the images were taken in a bird sanctuary or aviary, where visitors can expect close encounters with birds. However, a bird landing directly on a person's head, particularly in such a striking pose, is still unexpected and amusing, especially because the girl's reaction indicates that this was a spontaneous and unanticipated interaction.
Lastly, the reason this image might be found funny by people is because it relates to the universal experience of being caught off guard by wildlife. Many can relate to the mixture of delight and discomfort when nature interacts with us in surprising ways. This shared understanding allows the image to tap into a common sense of humor based on unexpected, unusual, or out-of-place events. The image, enhanced by its captions, turns an ordinary visit to an aviary into a memorable and laugh-inducing moment. a bird landed on my girlfriends head that ain t no bird that is an omen of death