Warbler, Waxwings and Allen oh my…

Bohemian and Cedar Waxwing, Allen’s Hummingbird, Bahama Warbler, Rose-Throated Tanger and the Canada Jay

If we haven’t met I’m Hannah and I’m a watercolor artist living in Columbus, Ohio. I’m painting every bird in North America. While on this journey I’m learning all kinds of info about these amazing creatures and I need a place to share it, enter the bird blog.

Canada Jay

This bird surprised me as the first of the corvid category. I was expecting black, blue and purple birds and was a touch thrown to find this neutral darling. Thrilled I had the joy of learning about him because apparently they are quite the character filled littles.

The Canada Jay is a North American bird with some under stated, yet sophisticated style. Not only does it rock a sleek gray coat and a jaunty black cap, but it also has an adorable habit of stealing snacks from hikers. In fact, this bird is so friendly that it's been known to perch on people's hands and even eat out of their palms. Some might call it a scavenger, but I prefer to think of it as a savvy socialite who knows how to work the room - er, forest. So if you're craving some feathered fun on your next outdoor adventure, keep an eye out for the Canada Jay - it's sure to put a smile on your face and a cracker in your hand.

Rose-Throated Tanger

The Rose-throated Tanager is a small, brightly-colored songbird that is native to Central and South America. It is found in countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The male Rose-throated Tanager has a striking appearance, with a bright red head, throat, and upper breast, contrasting with its black back, wings, and tail. The female is olive-green on the upperparts and yellow-green on the underparts. Rose-throated Tanagers inhabit forest edges, secondary growth, and open woodlands. They feed on insects, fruit, and nectar, and are known to forage in the mid to upper levels of the forest. This species is known for its melodious song, which is a series of clear, high-pitched notes that rise and fall in pitch. Males often sing from exposed perches during the breeding season to attract females. Rose-throated Tanagers are not considered threatened at the moment, but their populations are declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Conservation efforts to protect their habitats and increase awareness of their ecological importance are needed to ensure their survival.

The Waxwings

I had an absolutely nightmarish time trying to paint these two birds. The only two in their category the Bohemian and Cedar waxwing nearly caused me to lose it trying to distinguish them enough to paint them properly. Eventually I had to reach for one of my dusty bird books and wouldn’t you know it the field guide had a nice little convenient list detailing the exact differences between the two. Next time just look at the books Hannah, the books know they always know.

Both Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings are known for their distinctive crested head feathers and sleek grey-brown plumage. They both have a unique diet of berries and fruit, with Cedar Waxwings favoring cedar berries and Bohemian Waxwings preferring mountain ash berries during the winter months. Despite being named after different locations, neither species is exclusive to the Bohemian region or cedars. Bohemian Waxwings are larger than Cedar Waxwings, weighing up to 60% more than their southern relatives. Cedar Waxwings often display vibrant colors of yellow and red on their wings, while Bohemian Waxwings showcase striking yellow and white patterns on their wings and tail.

Bahama Warbler

Gosh I had fun painting this little bird. Isn’t he darling? The warblers are hands down my favorite of all bird categories. They’re so wildly varied and interesting I’m forever obsessed. The Bahama Warbler, also known as the Yellow-throated Warbler, is a small passerine bird in the New World warbler family. This species is endemic to the Bahamas, where it is found on the islands of Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, and Andros Island. The Bahama Warbler is known for its distinctive yellow throat and black mask, as well as its olive-green upperparts and yellow underparts. This bird is found in a variety of habitats including pine forests, coppice, and mangrove swamps. The Bahama Warbler feeds mainly on insects but will also eat berries and other small fruits. It is a migratory bird, wintering in the Caribbean and South America.

Allen’s Hummingbird

Fun fact: painting hummingbirds is wildly overwhelming to me. They’re so incredibly tiny, they’re NEVER on the ground (alive anyway) which makes it incredibly difficult to paint them given that my style of avian illustration does not allow for any props to sit on. The color shifting quality is incredible AND they’ve got all those tiny details on their heads? It makes me silly trying to sort them out but I believe I’ve managed. 

Allen’s Hummingbird is a small hummingbird species native to North America. The males of this species are easily recognizable by their bright, iridescent green heads and backs, and their vibrant reddish-orange throats. The females of this species are slightly less flashy, with green and gray feathers blending into a buff-colored underside. Allen's Hummingbirds are known for their agility and speed - with wings that can flap up to 80 times per second, they can hover and change direction in mid-air with impressive ease. These little birds have a sweet tooth! They feed primarily on nectar from flowers, but have also been known to visit hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water.