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Number 5 in my bird “portraits” series is this tufted titmouse. I love these birds in their little gray suits, they look like little business birds. The flash of rust on their flanks just highlights the richness of the grayscale theme. They are common year-round at Triangle area feeders and fun to watch. They are…
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Here’s the 4th bird in my portrait series, the ruby-throated hummingbird. They’re small, yes, but among hummingbirds they’re considered medium-sized. They eat twice their own weight every day, mostly nectar, but they can also eat some bugs and spiders. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummer you’ll see in the Triangle area, where it is…
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Happy 4th of July. The third of my bird “portrait” series is the American crow. This large black Corvid is similar to a raven but smaller. American crows are common in the Triangle area and almost all of the US. The American crow’s call is “caw, caw.” The smaller crows you see around here shouting…
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Here’s the second in my bird portrait series. I chose the blue jay because I think it’s one of the most likely birds to have a mug shot. This guy says he’s innocent until proven guilty, so I won’t talk about his alleged crimes here (you can google). Blue jays are among the coolest, most…
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I’m starting a new short series of watercolor bird “portraits.” This time it’s the northern cardinal, with a few other bird species coming soon. The northern cardinal’s head has gotten pretty big over being named the official state bird of seven states, more than any other species. The northern cardinal is a year-round resident of…
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The eastern kingbird is a beautiful blue-black and white flycatcher you can find in the Triangle area. They winter in the tropics, but in the summer you’ll find kingbirds overlooking open rural and suburban areas from high positions. I have seen them in the Brier Creek area surveying large open areas from tall lamp posts.…
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This bird used to be called the rufous-sided towhee. Why’d they change its name? I don’t know. Maybe They Might Be Giants will write a song to explain. The eastern towhee is a ground-feeding bird commonly seen in the Triangle area. Look under trees and shrubs – and under bird feeders. They hop and scrape…
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I’m finally painting again after a long break. A successful couple of days at Rebus Works earlier this month really helped. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and talked with me about birds and my work. This is a pair of painted buntings, a male and a female, that I put together from a couple…
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The famous Rebus Works Punk/DIY Flea Market is this coming weekend! I will be there selling paintings, prints, notecards, and what-not, including my Average Joes series of artists, actors and musicians drinking coffee (Cup-A-Joe coffee to be precise). It’s 12-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Hope to see you there.
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The American Goldfinch molts in the spring so that it has an especially vibrant set of feathers in time for breeding season. These active, noisy little finches are common visitors to feeders in the Raleigh area. They’ve always been a favorite of mine because of their bright yellow coloring. I painted this 5×7” watercolor from…
Craig Laurer 