A Formidable Finch

I recently painted a commission piece, which was given to the custodian of a red-browed finch named Julianna. During the process I was privileged to learn a lot about this formidable finch, a tiny bird with a huge personality! She has well and truly carved out her place in the family, bringing entertainment, love and a few party tricks. 

For some unexplained reason, she took an extreme dislike to the resident orchid plant, angrily stripping the edges of its leaves. As this is something she has become known for, it seemed only right to include part of the poor pot plant in the painting, hence the brown-edged leaves beneath her.

This fabulous finch is one of many birds these wonderful people care for; they specialise in Eclectus Parrots and have written a comprehensive guide to this spectacular Australian parrot species. If you’re interested in rearing or caring for an Eclectus, I highly recommend this book: The Ultimate Guide To Eclectus Parrots