Honeycreepers and a Hummingbird 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
This piece was inspired by birds working a large hibiscus shrub outside the dining hall in La Milpa Lodge, Belize last March.
Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii)
A striking green tanager that is found in the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. It is the only extant member of the genus Chlorornis.
Spotted Tanager (Ixothraupis punctata)
A pretty tanager found in the Andes of Peru. It’s closely related to the Speckled Tanager also in this blog.
Golden-naped Tanager (Chalcothraupis ruficervi)
A common Tanager on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru.
Plumbeous Rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus)
A rail that is common in much of the southern half of South America. This one was seen at Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa, in southern Lima, Peru.
Peruvian Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus superciliaris)
We were on a tour of an ancient archeological site near Lima, Peru. It is a drab, sandy area. Several of us saw a bone on the ground (shown). I did not think much of it until one of our party asked what was on the ground next to bone. It took me several seconds to see what she was referring to. This fairly large bird is a master at camouflage. They rest motionless during the day and forage at nighttime.
These photos were taken with a telephoto lens with a limited depth of field to bring out the bird. To the unaided eye, they are difficult to see. The Peruvian Thick-knee.
Lesson's Motmot
Lesson’s Motmot 12” x 12” acrylic on wood panel
It was a treat to come across this wonderful bird again in Belize last March
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
A colorful bird that breeds in the Western United States and winters in Western Mexico. This one was photographed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California near Yuba Pass.
Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis)
This colorful bird really catches the eye. We saw several of these in forested areas in Belize. This photo shows off the yellow legging of this species. The red head with the yellow and black eye are striking. This one was seen near La Milpa, Belize.
Burrowing Owls
Burrowing Owl Pair 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
It is in its breeding plumage. We saw this one at Estero Llano Grande State Park in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Cranes in Flight
Cranes in Flight, 12” x 24” acrylic on canvas
The Sandhill Cranes put on a show for us when we visited Merced National Wildlife Preserve in January and they inspired this painting.
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
Prairie Warbler
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris)
The tanagers of Colombia are not only diverse, they are often stunning. I think of them as eye-candy.
White-tailed Trogon (Trogon chionurus)
I love photographing trogons. This one was a lifer.
Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Chlorestes julie)
White-crowned Sparrows and Blackberries
White-crowned Sparrows and Blackberries, 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
The White-crowned Sparrows returned to out yard in September and these handsome sparrows begged to be painted.
Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves and Eucalyptus 12” x 12” acrylic on wood panel
Mourning Doves great subjects to work with because I can paint them in small groups or pairs.
Western Tanagers
Western Tanagers 20” x 10” x 1.5” acrylic on wood panel
I look forward to the return of Western Tanagers from Central America each spring. The males are brilliantly colored but because they like to perch high in trees and deep in the foliage they are often hard to find.
Rufous-capped Warbler
A perky small warbler that resembles a wren in the way it keeps its tail erect. These were common in Jalisco state in and around brushy areas.
We found this little beauty on the side of the road near San Sebastián del Oeste. We later saw others on our drive up to Cerro la Bufa.