Thursday, June 23, 2011

For the birds...and Paint Party Friday


Parrot ACEO...boy or girl?



Ever wonder why boy birds are so colorful and pretty and girl birds are sometimes rather drab?   Take cardinals for instance, the males of the species are bright red, the females a drab brown color.  Even a male robin’s red breast is just a bit redder than his mate.  I won’t even go into the American goldfinch male who is bright canary yellow while his significant other is a dull ocher-ish color. 

BOY!


Science says that female birds choose their mates by judging a beauty contest of sorts. Yes, that shallow hussy picks her mate by virtue of his good looks.  She doesn’t care if he has a great personality; she likes the one with the prettiest and brightest colors.  Sounds pretty superficial to me.  So as a result he poor little bird who just didn’t get enough vitamins in his bird seed flies away without a girlfriend. 

BOY!


To be fair to those feathered females, some scientists also think that maybe the color difference may be to protect the female from predators. I mean, if you were a predator wouldn’t you go for the bright red bull’s eye and leave the ugly, brown baby mama alone. I don’t think anyone really knows for sure, but it’s interesting to ponder.

And then there is the case of the parrot.  Male and female are both very, very colorful.  In fact, since their sexual organs are internal, without an invasive medical procedure you won't be able to tell which is which.  So the question is how to do you tell a male parrot from a female parrot. 

Answer:  You ask them…. Parrots can talk right?

For paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com I am showing off my ACEO of a parrot.  Sorry but I don’t know if he is a boy…or a girl. Please go and visit all the wonderful, creative and truly fantastic art from all the other participants.  You’ll be glad you did! As always thanks to Kristin and Eva!

41 comments:

Franz said...

Great post,fantastic jobs,congrats Crystal!!
Have a nice day!!

Ciao!

Valerie-Jael said...

Lovely pics, and I am going to ask the next parrot in my tree if its a boy or a girl Huga, Valerie

maddyrose said...

Lovely post. You're as good at drawing and painting birds as you are with horses, and that's really saying something. Have a great weekend.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Too funny Crystal! Beautiful paintings as always! Have a great weekend!

Gerri Herbst said...

Love your painting today...yeah why are both sexes of parrots colorful?Loved yr bubble wand tut also, so cool. take care, happy ppf, gerri

Anonymous said...

Stunning pictures and a really informative post - I had no idea their sexual organs were all internal - you learn something new every day!!

Your paintings are so detailed - just fabulous.

Heather said...

These brids are just beautiful, Crystal! You are such a talented artist! Really, just lovely take on them! Happy Friday, my friend!

Victoria said...

Wow...your birds are spectacular and such gorgeous souls...beautiful work!! Lovely post!
Shine on!
Victoria

Jenn Bower said...

Lovely post and what wonderful birds you've rendered. I love the commentary. I have parakeets and was told you can tell their gender by the color of their beaks. If I recall I think the boys' look more purple in color????? Your work always amazes me. Have a great weekend.

Netty said...

Terrific post and your bird paintings are fabulous. Annette x

Darla said...

Birds can be fascinating, can't they? I have a male redbird who pecks continually at my window for the third straight year now....same bird. I wonder how long he can live.
Love your paintings of the birds.

Marcia Beckett said...

Gorgeous birds! Happy PPF! Marcia

Art with Liz said...

Had a good chuckle at your boy vs girl comments. Great work Crystal - love the birds.

Pam Tucker said...

Gorgeous works, especially that parrot! Yes, I have wondered about those, things! ;)

GlorV1 said...

What an informative post about birds. My husband raises birds of all sorts so he knows about them. Great job of painting them. Very interesting.Happy PPF!

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

Lovely birds Crystal!

Theresa said...

Wonderful bird artwork! Yes it is so interesting how nature works. I am smitten with birds myself & their beauty.Happy PPF! Theresa

Janice said...

What a wonderful collection of birds! Nice work.

Tammie Lee said...

ah, your birds are lovely~

Abela said...

I love your birds and! What good shape and painted in color! Great .. I would keep all ... Saludos

Leovi said...

Beautiful birds. Yes, you have to be handsome to attract females. I imagine that the females are in their best beauty genes. Women remain the same tactic but following other criteria.

Wanda said...

Your birds are beautiful, and now I know that the bright yellow finches are male....I almost thought they were canaries.

Love all your art work...Is there anything you can draw?? You are quite the talent. Love your blog.

Lee Pierce said...

Excellent birds, Crystal! Wonderful work as always and a nice read, too.

Anonymous said...

I love your parrot,, I never knew that about parrots,, so I guess when you buy a breeding pair you take a risk right,beautifully painted

Magic Love Crow said...

Crystal love the paintings! Never knew that about parrots! You are too funny! Just ask them! LOL! Have a great day!

Christine said...

beautiful bird art you've made, and interesting question about the parrots, nice post!

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

Gorgeous birds. I stayed a little while to watch them and enjoy the music too. :D

Ileana said...

This was a fun visit. I enjoyed the pretty birds, especially the red cardinal (who POPS right out at you), and that music is tops, too! :)

Hybrid J said...

Lovely parrot work! Well Done!

Geri said...

What lovely birds - the cardinal is my favorite!!

EVA said...

Wonderful birds, Crystal!! I just came in from seeing a blue jay and we have several families of cardinals in the neighbourhood this year.

Your birds are gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Love all your birds! It's a mystery to me about the parrots. Happy PPF! :-)

Carola Bartz said...

Stunning paintings of these beautiful birds.

Heather Foust said...

These paintings are stunning!!! Just absoulutely great!!

Kristin Aquariann said...

Pretty birds! My dad has an Amazon parrot named after him that's older than me.

SHERI COOK said...

All the pretty birds. I am especially fond of your little cardinal. Belated HAPPY PPF wishes today!

Daniella said...

Beautiful birds!!! Your work is awesome!!
I have to get on CT today! I haven't started!! ugh. I hate being late!!
xxDaniella

jamberry_song said...

Hahahaha! Cute. ^__^ And such beautiful pictures, too. What kind is your favorite bird, Crystal? I love the redwing blackbird because he wears his heart on his sleeve. ;)

Linda E. Pruitt said...

Crystal, I love the robin. We had lots of robins in our large back yard when I was growing up. And I love how you did the grass. I always have a hard time with grass--I don't know why!--Maybe I try to make it too complicated!

Unknown said...

Love your bird paintings! Ya, seems no fair that the male gets to be bright and colorful, but it does make sense since it would be pretty hard for her to blend in with her surroundings while sitting on her nest if she were bright and colorful. Happy PPF!

Unknown said...

lovely
KAT

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