Black Terns #1

The painting of the Black Tern (Childonias niger) was commissioned as a retirement gift for a biologist who studied the species. It is the fourth... more

by Barry Kent MacKay

Original - Sold

Price

$600

Dimensions

20.000 x 16.000 x 0.250 inches

Title

Black Terns #1

Artist

Barry Kent MacKay

Medium

Painting - Oil On Russian Birch Panel

Description

The painting of the Black Tern (Childonias niger) was commissioned as a retirement gift for a biologist who studied the species. It is the fourth painting (plus several pen and ink studies) I have done of the Black Terns, a favourite subject because of its dainty elegance and subtle black, white, grey and silvery-grey colouration. Here I show two birds in late July as they would appear in in southern Ontario. One of the birds has started fall moult with white feathers starting to appear on the neck, but even in full breeding plumage the bases of the black feathers are white, so white often shows through the black. Common when I was young these marsh-nesting birds have become much rarer here in North America. They are very similar to ones found in Eurasia, but some experts think they should be regarded as two separate species. Our birds winter from Mexico south to southern South America while Eurasian birds normally winter on the west coast of Africa. They eat very small fish and invertebrates, including insects caught in flight. The painting is in oils, 16 by 20 inches. $600.

Uploaded

October 9th, 2021