Songbird & Hummingbird Line Art & Full Color Illustration

Artist's notes:

From my earliest memories I recall looking out the kitchen window in the backyard of the home I grew up in Minneapolis. We had a large birdfeeder there that was kept full of seed, no matter how much snow was on the ground or how cold the temperature got. I don't think the visitors were all that interesting to my parents - robins and sparrows mostly - but when we were visited by the vivid red of the occasional cardinal it was really a spectacular sight. It made the dreary gray of the Minnesota winters somehow less so. When I began to draw songbirds early on, I knew they would become a favorite subject of mine. At the time of writing this I have completed 36 illustrations of these birds, including hummingbirds. I know some of the drawings here aren't of birds that traditionally fit into the songbird category, but until I can collect enough of type to create a new page, here's where you'll find them. Many of these birds were commissioned for the Laura Erickson's book 101 Way to Help Birds. I try to add a new songbird or hummingbird every few weeks, but if you'd like to see a species species of bird added here please send me an email.

Information about Songbirds:

Songbirds are members of the Order Passeriformes - which are perching birds who have very strong feet to grab branches. It is believed this order contains about 6,000 species. Some estimates have songbirds representing 60% of all living bird species - making them the largest and most diverse group of birds on the planet. The songs the birds sing may be used to attract a mate, or to declare the territory of a bird to others in the area. Songbirds feed on seeds and other plant matter, but are are often insectivorous (usually during the breeding season) which means they provide critical biological control of insects, including ones that are pests to humans and may be destructive to habitats. Members of the order Passeriformes are agile and quick in flight, and will hop or walk rapidly when on the ground. Songbirds tend to be found in woodlands and forests, more so than in the plains and deserts. They also generally prefer open areas with vegetation such as meadows, with at forests at the edges. Passeriformes are very hardy birds, and are able to survive in wintery areas like mountains, but most species are found in the tropics and sub-tropics. Many species also have adapted to life in urban areas and cities.

Information about Hummingbirds:

Hummingbirds comprise the members of the family Trochilidae. The name comes from the distinctive humming sound made by the beating of their wings. They are some of the smallest birds in the world, including the smallest living bird on the planet - the Bee Hummingbird which is a mere 2 inches (5cm) long. Hummingbirds are excellent flyers, and can hover still in the same place high amazing accuracy. Their wings beat an astonishing 12-90 times per second - depending on the species. They are the only bird that can fly backwards. Similarly, their hearts beat very rapidly too and can reach over 1000 beats per minute. Unlike other birds, they are very ungainly on the ground and almost never walk. Hummingbirds mostly feed on nectar, which they obtain by hovering near a flower and inserting their beak into it. Often the size and shape of the hummingbirds beak is specially adapted to the types of flowers it feeds on. They will also eat insects in order to obtain protein. Because of their high metabolism, hummingbirds will ingest more than their own weight in food each day. They are never more than a few hours from starving, and are able to store just enough food to last them through the night. Hummingbirds spend about 10-15% of their day feeding, and the other 85-90% sitting and digesting.