The goldfinch loves the seeds of thistles, burdock, and other ruderal weeds. Its scientific name (Carduelis carduelis) comes from the Latin word carduus, meaning thistle.

The European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), is a small passerine bird in the finch family that is native to the Palearctic zone in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It has been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and the United States.

Black market worth millions of euros and... millions of bird lives.

Did you know that... goldfinches are (theoretically) protected birds in Europe, but... in the Mediterranean basin, they are:

- caught, illegally captured in nets and on sticky sticks, and then sold at underground pet markets;

- in the Middle East, the goldfinch is an extremely popular cage bird;

- in these regions, wild songbirds are captured en masse or shot with shotguns for culinary purposes. They are used to prepare the local, illegal delicacy ambelopoulia (a dish made from small songbirds). Hundreds of thousands of birds are killed there annually (for example, an official report by BirdLife Cyprus published in the spring of 2026 shows that as many as 726,000 songbirds were illegally caught and killed in Cyprus the previous autumn).

Bird populations (and other species) are rapidly disappearing from Earth. Do we really need to eat these tiny creatures that make our world more beautiful?

19-06-24 DAPO ART BY GUYMICK CORMIC

Oil on canvas.
#lloydthebudgie

I completed this acrylic owl painting several years ago. It cost me a full time week of painting, and a friend. For any artist who takes commissions; ALWAYS charge a deposit. Even from your best friend.

If it’s a trade of doing work for each other as in this case, make them show good faith by keeping some of their part of the deal before you begin. This was a statement painting, I believe it was 4ft wide but I don’t remember, it may have been 3.5ft.

You live and learn. Losing my friend hurt the most but I realized that she didn’t really care. I hope you don’t make my mistake.

Acrylic on 14”x14” canvas.

Cattle egret on hippos
Polychromos , luminance and Pablo pencil on Saunders Waterford 300gsm HP paper
18”x13”

My pineapple conure Fable loves to be in my studio but it’s a little tricky to paint“with” him because he wants a front row seat. He tries to take my brush so I need to play bait n switch with distractions.

This painting is close to done but I’m not ready to call it finished yet. It’s an acrylic on canvas wip.

"Lowercase U the Umbrella Bird by RenniferEntertain47 on DeviantArt" https://www.deviantart.com/renniferentertain47/art/Lowercase-U-the-Umbrella-Bird-911575766

Just a little lunch time quickie for practice. Still needs more work.

This is my painting of a female Ruby Throated Humming Bird. It’s painted in acrylic on untempered Masonite. I hope you like it.