Wednesday, March 19, 2014

WOOD THRUSH


Spotted-breasted thrushes are typically slightly smaller than robins.  Their dark eyes, shorter tails, and spotted breasts distinguish them from thrashers.  They prefer the forest understory; eat insects and berries.  All are fine singers. (From Golden Books A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America).

The wood thrush is the common nesting thrush in eastern deciduous forest and suburbs.  It has an olive body but a rusty head and the spotted breast all thrushes have. 


The thrush alone declares the immortal wealth and vigor that is in the forest.
Whenever a man hears it, he is young, and Nature is in her spring.
Wherever he hears it, it is a new world and a free country, and the gates of heaven
are not shut against him.   -   Henry David Thoreau

8 comments:

  1. Lovely portrait, Rhonda. You got the colors really well, and I love the spotted breast!

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  2. I love the ethereal sense to this piece, Rhonda. Maybe it is the words you've included that make it seem so, but it is indeed beautiful.

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  3. Dear Rhonda - what a lovely bird. I often see them around our place. As always enjoy seeing your beautiful work. Hope you have a great day.

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  4. Lovely painting of the wood thrush, the poem is beautiful.

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  5. Thanks, Laura. I did this one without drawing so he became a bit rounder than I intended! ha ha

    Sherry, thanks. I found the poem and then wanted to paint a thrush to go with it - this is the only one here in breeding season.

    Thanks, Debbie. I actually got this from the Bird book - I've not seen one here as they move through in spring.

    Thanks, Caroline and Kathryn - glad you enjoyed it.

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  6. Thanks, Carol :) I wish it was a bit looser, but what can you do - that old brush just keeps "shaping" and "shaping" until there is no shape!! ha ha

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