Drawing - Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (Male) - Graphite on Paper
Copyright Nicole MacPherson, 2009

I sure look forward to these birds arriving in the spring! They usually arrive just before the orioles, and have the most beautiful song. The males are very conspicuous in the trees, red spots on bright white chest. They're more skittish than many of the birds, and aren't usually willing to come to the feeders nearer the house, preferring to eat seeds on the ground.

I enjoy drawing dark birds. It's more work, uses more pencil (and eraser!) and is more complicated - must only work down and to the right, or else pencil will be smudged EVERYwhere! But I find it easier to draw than the lighter birds. I must have a heavy hand with the pencil!