Here I illustrated the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) feeding with hairy caterpillars (Aporia crataegi), which are distasteful to many birds. Cuckoo is an insectivore, eating mainly insects and their larvae. Hairy caterpillars, which are rejected by most birds, are eaten by the cuckoo.
Watercolour painting illustrating a Barred Warbler feeding on Elderberry before the migration.
Size A4
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) family are numerous. This little bird usually has 8-12 nestlings. Here I illustrated five nestlings and the two adult birds. The young birds are tended by both parents. The Long-tailed Tit nestlings remain with the parents’ flock over the first winter.
Next painting illustrating different type of bird eggs. To paint the high lights and soft shadows on the eggs I used the Adobe Photoshop painting program.
Honey Buzzard ( Pernis apivorus) egg, Common Raven (Corvus corax) egg, Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) egg, Blackbird (Turdus merula) egg, Hawfinch ( Coccothraustes coccothraustes) egg, Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) or (Parus caeruleus) egg, Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) egg, Red-backed Shrike ( Lanius collurio) egg, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) egg, Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) egg.
There are two main types of nestling. One is the downy precocial chick like the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) and the other the naked altricial nestling, the typical song-bird nestling like Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). The precocial or nidifugous chick is active soon after hatching and able to leave the nest if necessary. The altricial or nidicolous nestling hatching naked, blind and helpless. They are wholly dependent by its parents.
Watercolour painting, size A4
