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Details

Submitted: January 12, 2011
Image Size: 19.6 MB
Resolution: 3275×4591

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Black-Maned Liontailby `Ravenari

Traditional Art / Drawings / Fantasy

Black-Maned Liontail Bird of Paradise

Available for sale at Etsy:

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On the rugged coastline of the Matako-Smith island, lives the rare black-maned liontail bird of paradise. The male is a strikingly coloured bird, but spends the majority of its life living in the similarly coloured stoneleaf tree, and so is frequently hard to spot, and well-camouflaged. Like all maned liontail birds of paradise, the female is drably coloured, with only a blush of red on her wings. The black-maned liontail is said to be possessed of a curse by locals, and unlike many other birds of paradise, he is not hunted for his feathers or his meat.

The maned liontails are related to the moon-sickles, but possess a unique physiological behaviour. Males grow a profuse, luscious ‘mane’ before every breeding season. The larger the mane, the more likely he is to secure a mate. Upon doing so, he allows the female to guide him back to her nest, where she plucks every individual mane feather to line her nest. The feathers increase the warmth for offspring, and in turn, the larger the mane; the larger the chance of survival during the cold, Winter months.

(part of the faux Bird of Paradise series)

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This piece is lovingly crafted on sturdy bend and damage-resistant illustrator's board, with watercolour pencil, pencil, water-fast fineliner, and acrylic and iridescent paint.

A4 (21 x 29.7 cm / 8.3 x 11.7 inches). Includes an approximate half-centimetre border around the image to assist in framing.