Red-Tailed Hawks across the spectrum

April 8, 2021 — Leave a comment

“Inspiration, move me brightly

light the song with sense and color

Hold away despair

more than this I will not ask

Faced with mysteries dark and vast

statements just seem vain at last”

-Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead. 

There is one specific bird that has long stirred my spirit to move paint across page after page. To call it my muse wouldn’t be completely unfair. Buteo jamaicensis. North America’s Red-tailed Hawk.  

Since my youth Red-tailed Hawks have captured my imagination. One of my earliest memories regarding birds was my father pointing out a perched Red-tailed Hawk in the field by our house. Then later a school visit to a wildlife rehabilitation center where I met my first hawk. And years later while I explored California’s central coast seeing them float on thermals inspired me to take all I’d learned from my sister about painting and use it to try and catch their wonder. 

“The storyteller makes no choice

soon you will not hear his voice

his job is to shed light

and not to master” 

-Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead. 

Red-tailed Hawks are found across almost all of North America. I’ve been across almost all of North America from one time or another and enjoyed these hawks on my travels. I put together this panel to demonstrate the incredible variety of colors they occur in. 

Once again I’m proud to paint on a panel my father made for me. The same man who gave me my introduction to this great world of wildlife puts the pages right under my paintbrush. 

Owls of the World: Long-Eared Owl

February 10, 2021 — Leave a comment

Asio otus. 

Here’s one we haven’t looked at together yet. A mid-size owl found across Eurasia, North Africa, and North America. They nest and hunt in lightly forested regions (preferring coniferous forests), agricultural areas, and in winter can occasionally be found in urban areas. 

Their diet consists primarily of small rodents, but will also occasionally take birds, bats, and insects. 

This was a fun painting to put together. Thanks so much for looking at birds with me. 

Raptors of the World: Red-tailed Hawks

November 18, 2020 — Leave a comment

We’ve looked at this bird more than any other here. This species has been the epicenter of my fascination with raptors for years. My goal with this panel was to illustrate the variety of plumages found in this species across North America. I’ve read this described as races or subspecies. I’m not sure what the right word is but it really is noteworthy how different the Western Red-tailed Hawk (bottom center) is in colors from a light-morph Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk (top right). 

Red-tailed Hawks prefer to hunt in open regions such as prairie, urban, agricultural, savanna, and partially forested areas. They feed primarily on small mammals, reptiles, birds, and swarming insects. 

Here’s a look at the painting process for fun. Thanks for looking at birds with me. 

Falcons of the World: Peregrine Falcon (again).

November 4, 2020 — Leave a comment

Falco peregrinus. 

We’ve looked at this falcon several times here. From its astounding 200+ mph dives to its serrated knife of a bill that it utilizes to sever the spines of its prey. This bird is in a league of its own. 

After the last panel painting I still had these speedy murder birds fresh in mind so I put together another panel.  Thanks for looking at birds with me again. 

Falcons of the World: Peregrine Falcon

October 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

Falco peregrinus. 

The first Peregrine I saw was with my dad when he visited me in Morro Bay, Ca. at “the rock”.  It was perched way up there and we checked it out via binoculars. The next peregrine I saw was while standing in the middle of a busy intersection in Oakland, Ca. Somebody yelled “Get outa the street asshole!” And all I could do was point at the cloud of pigeon feathers created by a falcon hitting prey at 200+ mph. Then a couple weeks later while at work at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park, Ca. while drinking a beer with my coworker Brian (we were off the clock) one flew by and I lost my mind with excitement. It was like seeing a celebrity. 

In late 2016 I planned to move back to Illinois. It became clear to me I needed to be closer to my family and those that I loved. A concern I had was that I’d see fewer of the birds I’d fallen so hard for and dedicated so much of my time to illustrate and learn about. 

After four days on the road driving across half of North America and counting every hawk I saw (27) I pulled into my parents driveway. My dad (whom had driven all the way to California to help me move home) and I hugged in the drive way in celebration. This was the same place where we stood when I left for California almost 10 years prior. It was dusk and I walked out into the field next to the house and heard clearly the distinct call of a great horned owl. I knew then I was home and my raptor adventures had only just begun. 

Leaving California was a big change in many ways. But then there I was this February in Chicago, the city by the lake, watching two peregrines hunting shorebirds.  It was like watching cheetahs on the discovery channel hunt gazelle. 

I’d been wanting to revisit this painting and pose for a while and finally got back to it on a wood panel my Dad made for me. Here we are almost exactly 5 years since I first put it on page (wooden page) in Oakland.

We’re back again coming in to land on an outstretched hand. 

I’m so grateful for my family for all they have done to push me to learn, love, and grow. I’m also grateful for you for looking at birds with me. Thank you so much. 

This one’s for you Dad!

Eagles of the World: Crowned Eagle

July 15, 2020 — Leave a comment

Stephanoaetus coronatus.

A large and powerful eagle found in forested regions of Central and Southeastern Africa. Feeds primarily on mammals including monkeys, forest antelope, hyraxes, mongooses, and bushbabies. Large lizards and snakes are also on the menu, as is the occasional bird.

crowned process1

Thanks so much for looking at birds with me.

Falcons of the World: Bat Falcon

July 10, 2020 — Leave a comment

Falco rufigularis

Here’s a small falcon species found in tropical forest regions of southern Mexico and south as far as Argentina. Rufigularis feeds primarily on bats (yeah right?), birds, insects, and small mammals. 

I have already painted one of these for you. A wonderful specimen sits in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Just a few miles south of my drawing desk. I’ve photographed it countless times to aid in paintings like this. 

IMG_9812

I send you my best. 

Thanks so much for looking at birds with me. 

Raptors of the World: Ornate Hawk-Eagle

June 18, 2020 — Leave a comment

Spizaetus ornatus

A medium size eagle found in tropical forests of Central and South America.  Aptly named for its unique coloration and head crest of black feathers.

Prefers to hunt from a perch or high glide in thick tropical forests. The dinner menu for Spizaetus ornatus is a variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

ornate haekeagle processB2

My favorite raptor of South America (There’s some solid competition there too).  I’ve made a few paintings of this one before but until now I feel I hadn’t captured its nuances. Then again having never been on the same continent as one, it’s hard to say. Thank you so much for looking at birds with me.

Hawks of the World: Red-tailed Hawk

May 30, 2020 — Leave a comment

Buteo jamaicensis.

North America’s most widespread raptor. Found in open regions of Mexico all the way north to Alaska and just about every point between. They prefer grasslands, fields, deserts, roadsides, parks, farmland, and broken forests. They feed primarily on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and swarming insects. They hunt from a perch like utility poles and trees. They also hunt on the wing, soaring in circles, gliding on thermals.  These hawks mate for life, nesting in treetops, cliff sides, and man made structures. They lay a clutch of between 1 and 5 eggs. Incubation time varies from 28-35 days.

rtha flight panel process

rtha panel paired 999

It’s no secret this is my favorite bird to study. In the field or in the studio they never fail to capture my imagination. They embody a sense of exploration and beauty to me. They were a common sight in my 20s when I was exploring California by bicycle and have remained a common sight as I enjoy my home near the prairie remnants of Illinois.

I put together these two paintings over the last couple weeks on panels my father made for me in his workshop. I can’t begin to express what a great gift it is to be able to paint on a panel he made, and to have his generous support all my life.

I’m so glad I get to share these birds and art with you all, thank you so much for looking at birds with me.

Hawks of the World: Sharp-shinned Hawk

May 10, 2020 — Leave a comment

Accipiter striatus.

The Sharp-shinned hawk is North America’s smallest Accipiter hawk. Found in a variety of habitats across North America. Shins feed primarily on birds, rodents, and swarming insects.

Until this week this is a hawk that hasn’t been very well represented in my collection of panel paintings. I enjoyed making the first panel so much I made a second one the next day.