Young blackbird trying to cool off!

Came upon this bird sitting on the path looking very hot and bothered! Beak open to pant and wings spread and feathers fluffed up. Not really nervous - too hot I guess. It would have been better sitting in the shade.

The first time I saw a bird doing this I thought it was damaged, maybe caught by a cat or something, so I went up to it and it flew off in a flurry of feathers and I realised what it was doing

Birds have a higher body temperature than us and don't sweat.

They pant to expel body heat, they breathe very quickly, letting the cooler air passing through the lungs and air sacs carry heat away from the body. A bird standing with its mouth open on a hot day is probably panting.

They can flutter the throat when they're hot, flexing the hyoid bone. This area has a generous blood supply and thus can give off a lot of heat.

Birds can elevate their feathers and hold their wings out a bit for air circulation and they spread their wings to protect their legs and feet