Which way is the wind coming from, right or left, and how can you tell?

Notice the difference in how feathers lay on the two Whooping cranes. That's the clue you need. All feathers are made to lay flat while birds are flying, so feathers lay flat from front to back. The wind is coming from the right; the bird with smooth feathers is facing into the wind. The other bird's feathers are rumpled; she is not facing into the wind.

Image: Laura Erickson