This tiny little bird is endemic to Jamaica and its numbers are under pressure due to loss of habitat.

It makes its home in banksides, so with development and road construction, it is easy to see why its numbers are dwindling.

That flash of green and red used to be a regular sight on our hilltop, years back, but I was lucky enough to almost run into one while I was walking round the track a couple of weeks ago. It was just sitting on a branch, at about eye level, making its funny little call; something between a ‘toot’ and a ‘croak’.

I painted this juvenile Tody, in pure watercolour, with very little detail in the surroundings, the better to focus on the fluffy softness of the bird itself. I used a lovely reference photograph, taken by Wendy Lee, birding expert, game warden, champion of the environment and photographer extraordinaire! She is also the founder and keeper of the Seven Oaks Wildlife Sanctuary, in Runaway Bay, Jamaica.

Seven Oaks Sanctuary - Jamaica (follow them on FB) provides a home for protected parrots that have been rescued from the illegal pet trade. Both colour versions of Amazona parrots, endemic to Jamaica (black-killed and yellow-billed) are protected by law, but many of the babies are caught so young that they have not been taught how to feed themselves in the wild, yet, so have to be hand reared for the rest of their lives. That is why Wendy is kept so busy and she does an amazing job!

If you feel you would like to give a home to this little Tody portrait, I will be donating a third of the proceeds to help Wendy’s Wildlife Sanctuary. Do send me a message to discuss logistics. The size is only 9” square and as yet unframed, so it can be posted quite easily. The price is US$90.

To paint similar projects with me, online, I have a new club called ‘Immersed in Watermedia’.

Take a look at what it’s all about here: https://www.patreon.com/susanclare and message me with any questions.

Stay safe and enjoy whatever bit of nature you can access right now; until next time!