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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Nest on Red Oak
This piece was inspired by one of nature’s most skilled architects—the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). In this painting Britt wanted to capture the lichen covered nest built on a red oak branch, crafted with precision by one of North America’s tiniest birds.
Did you know? Female hummingbirds construct their nests using plant down, moss, and **lichens**, which they carefully attach using **spider silk**. The silk not only binds the structure together but also gives it stretch and strength—crucial as the chicks grow. The lichen serves as natural camouflage, blending the nest perfectly into the bark and surroundings to shield it from predators.
A subtle detail Britt loved including in this piece: tiny threads of spider web wrapped around the nest and branch—a homage to the vital role spiders play in the hummingbird’s nesting success.
This painting is a tribute to both the science and art of nature.
