blog posts Plucky birds caught on video while yanking hair from live animals Aug 4, 2021 11:45 am by Live ScienceIllinois in the News Share on Facebook Tweet Email Images Live Science (Aug. 4) The inspiration for a study of birds that pluck hair off of living animals to line their nests came when a U of I researcher saw a tufted titmouse standing on a raccoon’s back, plucking its hair. 'My curiosity was piqued.' Share on Facebook Tweet Email