Another great little Bay Area bird. These lively little birds frequent the park at the Berkeley Marina, where we go to walk the dog off-leash. They startle and fly from tree to tree. I love watching them.
I also think the Beatles song “Blackbird” is one of the loveliest songs ever written. It makes a very effective lullaby.
This one looks so coy.
I kept it simple on this bird, almost an outline or silhouette.
According to the little web research I’ve done, a toucanet is also a toucan, but it’s a type of subspecies that is smaller in size. This guy struck me with his charming smile and bright beak. Plus, I got to break out the brush tip pen on his beak and black head feathers.
I love his crazy one legged pose. He looks like he’s doing one of those classic cheesy martial arts stances that people make when they’ve never taken a martial arts class but watched a lot of Bruce Lee movies. This duck will clearly try to take you down. That is, if you’re not already on the floor laughing at his earnest bravado and goofy grin.
I should take a better scan of this one. It looks too faded. quack.
Lumpy beak face. It’s like a chipmunk baboon face duck.
Brush tip pen and colored pencils.
Crazy eyebrow thingies. I’m sure there is a more scientific name for it.
Graphite. I really enjoyed doing these wings.
claire meyler 