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Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Snow Bunting full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Snow Bunting was completed on 1.13.2012. This illustration came together after a week of a rare case of artist's block. I chose this image because I knew it was one I could crank out fairly easily - lots of white! That said, the image still posed some challenges, as white animals often do. I'm happy with the three-dimensionality of the bird. These little birds are such lovely subjects - there's not a lot of white songbirds so far as I can tell. The drawing is based on a photo by Les Piccolo.

Information about the Snow Bunting:

The Snow Bunting - sometimes called a "Snowflake" by locals - is a member of the family of passerine birds. The bird is located in the northern hemisphere with a circumpolar Arctic breeding range. They are about 5.9 inches long (15 cm) with a wingspan of 11.8 inches (30 cm) and weigh about 1.1-1.6 ounces (31-46 grams) These birds can endure extremely cold weather down to -22 F (-30 c) which is when the males head to the breeding grounds in early April. They are omnivorous and feed on both plant matter and insects. The Snow Buntings flock in large groups, which has been compared to a snowstorm. They also nest together in groups of 20-40 couples. Unlike other polar animals, the Snow Bunting is basically the same color year round, with only one molt that doesn't change it's appearance much.