Purple Honeycreepers

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

My fascination with tropical birds continues unabated.  The purple honeycreeper is native to northern South America, mostly in the Amazon Basin.  Honestly, how does Mother Nature come up with these gorgeous designs and their astounding colors?

Oropendola

acrylic on panel, 12" x 9"

I've been fascinated by exotic birds for a few years now, and it seems I'm always finding new ones.  Here's one I stumbled across recently and, of course, I had to paint her!  The Oropendola is part of the blackbird family and native to the forests of Central and South America.  There are variations in color among them, but they all have a bright yellow tail.  The face is what I'm most drawn to, however.  How does Nature come up with these designs?  Amazing.