Have you been noticed migrating birds returning to your area this early spring? I’ve been seeing more robins, more mourning doves, more killdeer, and I’ve been hearing more and more birdsong each day. I’m deeply connected to the rhythm of the seasons, so I’m excited every spring to discover new birds returning.
I finished this hand-drawn bird illustration collection featuring a variety of colorful North American songbirds, carefully rendered with watercolor and colored pencils. Each bird is illustrated in a natural side-profile pose, highlighting distinctive plumage, markings, and personality.
The composition includes a diverse mix of species—from the bright red cardinal and vibrant goldfinch to the deep blue jay and the striking red-winged blackbird. Softer neutrals like finches, chickadees, and woodpeckers balance the palette of warm earth tones and bold, lively hues.
I wanted to capture the delicate beauty of backyard wildlife. The illustrations are designed to translate seamlessly into a repeating surface pattern, making them ideal for textiles, stationery, wallpaper, and nature-inspired home décor.
I kept them as simple patterns without any layers of motifs, similar to my Great Lakes Wildlife pattern, my National Parks Wildlife pattern and my Zoo Life pattern. It turns out they print well on my products!
The illustrations celebrates the charm and diversity of everyday birds, bringing a sense of nature, movement, and gentle color into any design.
Can’t you just picture a cheerful kitchen towel or fun sticker sheet of backyard birds!
Stay tuned for a preview of an upcoming bird pattern!
Happy hump day to you. Here’s to hoping you find time to get outside, breath in a big gulp of fresh air and slowly let it out with a sense of peace.
I was hoping this would keep them away from the bird feeder but they still try to devour that too. They are a bit frantic this time of year, trying to fatten up for winter and store food.