Nikolai Kirillovich Litvinov: Nightjar/USSR Birds

Artist: Nikolai Kirillovich Litvinov
1930 -
Nationality: Russian
Artwork Year: 1979
Image Size: 9 by 8 inches
Overall Size: 12.75 by 11.625 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

The Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus, is one of a very few Nightjars that makes its home outside of the tropics. Though its winter home is south of the Sahara Desert, this small bird journeys all the way north to the Soviet Union to breed. In contrast to many birds, the Nightjars do not build nests, but rather make their homes on the ground near a tree stump or a bush. There, the female lays her marble-colored eggs and only later on, during the hatching period, does a small nest-like hollow form around the eggs. Parent birds alternately incubate the eggs and their multi-colored plumage blends so perfectly with the surrounding terrain that it is virtually impossible to see the birds sitting on the nest. The Nightjar incubation period lasts up to eighteen days and when the young emerge from their shells, they are covered with soft brown down. Soon, after the nestlings have dried off and gained strength they leave the nest to explore their home. During the daytime one of the adult birds always remains with them, hiding them and protecting them from predators. Nightjars feed exclusively on insects they catch while flying about with their mouths held wide open. Because of this unique way of catching food, the young birds are dependent on their parents for food until they can fly. A noiseless, maneuverable flight coupled with long bristles around the beak increases the bird's ability to catch its prey.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.S.S.R. Nightjar stamp issued September 18, 1978.

Artwork Copyright © 1979 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05555

US$ Price: $950.00

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