Although the red-eyed vireo is a common bird, most people aren’t very familiar with it. It is well camouflaged and prefers staying high in the woodland tree tops where it sings incessantly. To my ear its call is akin to the American Robin’s, but one that happens to be a blabbermouth. The vireos are similar to the wood warblers being smaller birds that eat mostly arthropods.
Typically I find red-eyed vireos skulking around in the tree tops in the spring. Once the leaf cover is full they get very hard to find. Despite the “motor mouth,” their olive colors keep them well hidden. The past few years we have had Red-eyed Vireos come down to eye-level right outside our kitchen window in the late summer/early fall. I think they are coming in to eat the dogwood sawfly larvae on the dogwoods near the house. I’ve managed to get a few shots of these gorgeous birds over the years when they are nice and low. This ink and watercolor painting was done from some of those photos.
Arlene D'Amore
Dear Sir, I teach disabled students that would love these birds and the step-by-step detailed watercolor format. Can I buy a book from you? Could you help me out. I have to have something different each day and it is hard when I have 180 students a day.
Thank you and God bless,
Arlene
Matt
Hi Arlene,
Having to produce new content on a daily basis would sure be taxing, especially with that many students! I don’t have a book of my own on watercolor technique. I’m not a 100% sure of which watercolor books I’d suggest either. I haven’t looked at any in a long time. There are some good books on painting birds. A recent one by Tim Wootton looks promising. He is amazingly talented.
Best of luck with all your efforts!
Matt