Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

Thursday 11 August 2022

Three spurfowl

 Acrylics on Masonite, 30 x 20 cm:

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Used to be known as francolins, but in an attempt to standardize common names, the powers that be in bird nomenclature have changed lots of bird names.

This work is for sale. Contact me at brianvds@gmail.com

Monday 1 August 2022

Two birds

 Both in acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

Black-eyed bulbul, a common garden bird around here in South Africa:

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And crowned lapwing, very common in grasslands, including parks and sport fields:

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Monday 16 September 2019

Red-billed hornbill

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:


The hornbills have a rather strange system of breeding. They breed in hollows in trees. The opening is mostly blocked off with a plaster made of mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow opening through which the male feeds the female and her chicks. When the hole becomes too small for its occupants, the female breaks out; the opening is then resealed as before, and the chicks fed by both parents until they are ready to leave the nest.

This item may be for sale on my Bid-or-Buy store

Thursday 5 September 2019

White-bellied sunbird

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

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These small birds are fairly common around here where I live, in parks and gardens, as well as wooded wild areas. But they are not seen all that often because of their small size and wooded habitat. Not easy to photograph either, because they seem never to remain still for more than a fraction of a second at a time. Only the males have bright, iridescent colors; the females, like the females of other sunbirds, are drab grey-brown. They have a similar lifestyle to those of the hummingbirds of the Americas, and live on nectar, small insects and spiders.


Wednesday 4 September 2019

Southern Red Bishop

Acrylics on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

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The bishop birds are part of the weaver family, and like other weavers, in the breeding season the males turn into bright colors, build woven nests and engage in mating displays in an attempt to attract females. In the non-breeding season, they lose their bright feathers and turn drab like the females.


Tuesday 3 September 2019

Orange-breasted waxbill

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

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These colorful critters are fairly common along water courses in the eastern half of southern Africa. They're pretty small and elusive though, so usually you have sit quietly for a while before you wil see them, often in small groups, flitting from perch to perch.


Monday 26 August 2019

Black-eyed bulbul

Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

SOLD

Common garden birds in the eastern half of South Africa. In the west, the are replaced by the red-eyed bulbul, which is almost identical, except for a red ring around the eye.

Sunday 25 August 2019

Cape robin-chat

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

These birds used to be known simply as Cape robins - not difficult to see why, as they look rather like European robins, but are found in South Africa. Then, some years ago, the powers that be in bird nomenclature made extensive changes to the common names of lots of birds, presumably in an attempt to standardize names, and the Cape robin also got renamed. 

Thursday 22 August 2019

Early bird (hoopoe)

Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

SOLD

I saw this hoopoe in the early morning gloom, looking for breakfast - the early bird does indeed get the worm. Took a quick reference photo or two. The light was so low that the photo came out fuzzy and grainy, but it was still suitable as reference.

Monday 19 August 2019

A bird and a big beast

Red-headed finch on a branch. Acrylic on Masonite, 15 x 20 cm:

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A big beast in a small painting: Grazing elephant. Acrylic on Masonite, ACEO, i.e. 2.5 x 3.5 inch (64 x 89 mm):

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Thursday 15 August 2019

Masked weaver

More precisely, Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) male, building a nest. Acrylic on Masonite, 20 x 15 cm:

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