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Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-Headed Woodpecker line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Red-Headed Woodpecker full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Red-Headed Woodpecker was completed on 7.18.2011. This drawing has the distinction - such as it is - to be the last illustration completed on a drawing board I had owned for nearly 20 years. During this time, I'd estimate I'd completed nearly 800 drawings on the board. I'm glad the final drawing was a woodpecker, as I find them to be a wonderful subject to render.  This species is particularly lovely with the striking red head and contrasting white and black body. The illustration is based on a photo by the talented wildlife photographer Don Delany.

Information about the Red-Headed Woodpecker:

The Red-Headed Woodpecker is a small to medium sized woodpecker native to the temperate forests of North America. It is about 7-9 inches long with a wingspan of 14-17 inches. True to the name, this bird has a striking red-colored head. The body is mostly white and the wings are an iridescent colored dark blue or black. They are native to the eastern half of North America, from southern Canada to the border areas of Texas and Mexico. The Red-Headed Woodpecker is omnivorous, feeding on various insects and invertebrates, plant matter such as berries, nuts, seeds, and even small mammals like mice or eggs of other birds. This woodpecker was once very abundant, but the introduction of the European Starling, along with habitat loss now threatens this bird and efforts by some conservation groups are the only thing keeping it from becoming endangered or extinct.