Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Fledglings
These are some sketchbook drawings of various fledgling baby birds. It's a
funny sight to see a fledgling as big as its parent but still begging for food.
As the mother of a teenager, I can certainly sympathize! I like drawing
fledglings better than newborn chicks because I find the fledgling's scruffy,
half-grown feathers more endearing than the newborn nestling's naked skin.
Eggs
In this chapter on baby birds, I thought it might be a good idea to include
some eggs. Different birds lay different sizes, shapes and colors of eggs.
Many people draw songbird eggs as either miniature white chicken eggs or
as bright blue robin's eggs, but be sure your bird's eggs have the appropri-
ate color and pattern.
Eggs
These eggs, from left to right, are from a chipping sparrow, a chickadee, a
red-winged blackbird, a barn swallow, and a cardinal. Never collect eggs
from a nest. You can sometimes find broken shells near the nest after the
babies have hatched. Or you can look at specimens at a museum or in a
topic for reference.
