Birds through the Lens of Art

Josh's art book

To make sure you never miss a Daily Birder article, subscribe to our mailing list here.

Every detail you observe holds a treasure trove of information; the beginning of a fascinating story that can be told about a bird.

I struggle to recall the exact moment in my childhood when I started drawing. Making art has always just been something that I do as part of who I am. Some of my earliest memories are of myself drawing. A common theme could be found in most of my drawings: creatures. I remember vividly how my best childhood friend and I would pour over books filled with photos and illustrations of wild animals to find one that we wanted to draw. Ocelots, nightjars and dinosaurs, they all made their way onto the many pages of paper..

From Creatures to Birds: A Shift in Focus

As an adult (that is what I am now, supposedly) at university, my artistic endeavours have shifted slightly in the direction of a new specific fascination: birds. I am continuously trying to hone my skills, exploring more art mediums and trying to grow my ability to depict birds accurately in all their feathery splendour.

How does this relate to birding? Drawing birds has taught me to pay attention to detail and understand bird morphology in small and sometimes seemingly trivial things. Although spending time in the field with birds is the most important way in which to grow as a birder, drawing birds has supplemented my birding journey and enriched it in fascinating ways.

Drawing Birds: A Window Into Understanding Their Biology

When trying to draw a bird‘s folded wing, you might be overwhelmed by the incredible detail of the different groups of feathers all layered on top of one another. But if you understand that when a bird is perched, it folds its wings at the wrist (we see the wrists, not the shoulders of birds‘ wings when they are folded) and in doing so, its primary feathers (outer most (usually numbering about 10) flight feathers on a bird’s wing) are folded underneath its secondary feathers (the flight feathers on a birds wing closer to the birds body), you start to understand what you are drawing. You also begin to recognise what different wing-shapes look like when folded and in recognising this, you start to think about how the shape of a bird’s wing influences its function. 

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) drawn by bird artist Josh Wenzel

Next time you are out in the field birding, look at a falcon’s folded wings. Notice that their primaries protrude far beyond their secondaries. This is because falcons have almost triangular, pointed wings, which allow them to be the fast, acrobatic aerial predators that many of them are. Compare this to a heron with its very large, broad wings, which, when folded result in the primaries being almost invisible, as they are hidden behind the long rows of secondary feathers above them. These heavy birds understandably need large wings to stay in the air which is what this wing design allows.

The Beauty of Details: Why Observation Matters in Birding

I like to think that this attention to detail translates in some form or other into how I bird. Undoubtedly, spending time with birds in their natural habitat is paramount when trying to grow your confidence in bird identification. However, surely the drawing and studying of bird’s wings has helped me to recognise silhouettes of flying birds while birding? Be that as it may, I am convinced that drawing birds has helped me to think about their biology and increased my curiosity and enthusiasm for birds! It has helped me to observed the intricacies of these charming creatures. It has been an additional avenue through which to grow in my knowledge and love for birds in a memorable and visual way.

If all the details about feathers and wings left you cold, maybe I can leave you with this one thought. If there is anything you remember about this article, let it be this: it pays off to pay attention to detail when you bird. Stop for a moment to study the intricate patterns of a spurfowl‘s feathers. Take time to observe how the sparrow in your backyard preens its feathers. Every detail you observe holds a treasure trove of information; the beginning of a fascinating story that can be told about a bird. 

A Challenge: Try Drawing a Bird Yourself

If you are still here, reading this piece, may I challenge you to try something? Why don‘t you try to draw a bird? You can do it out in the field; hunched low in a bird hide or at home, wrapped in a blanket, scrolling through photos of birds on the internet. You can spend 30 seconds roughly sketching the outline of a bird or spend hours drawing feathers on a bird’s body. You don‘t have to be good at drawing - that‘s not the point. The point is to learn, to study the bird, to ask questions and maybe above all, to marvel at the beauty and wonder of these ingeniously-designed creatures.

Find Josh‘s art and photography on Instagram using the tag @the_shutterworks and @the_scribbleworks. Contact Josh at joshwenzel.art@gmail.com if you are interested in buying any of his artwork.

Book a stay at Nibela Lake Lodge. Nestled in an ancient sand forest on the banks of Lake St Lucia, the lodge offers world-class accommodation and exceptional birding opportunities. Besides the longclaw, you can look forward to species like Narina Trogon, Green Malkoha, African Broadbill, Pink-throated Twinspot, and Gorgeous Bushshrike. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a passionate beginner, Nibela is the ideal spot to relax, recharge, and add some lifers to your list.