Michael Warren: The Yellow Wigtails

Artist: Michael Warren
1938 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1979
Image Size: 5.875 by 6.6 inches
Overall Size: 8 by 9.875 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

The Yellow Wagtail is considered a national treasure by the British and when they first sight these delightful birds on a river or pond, it is a certain sign spring has arrived. This favorite bird earns his name by energetically wagging his tail as he patrols Britain's riverbanks searching for insects, snails and soft seeds to eat. The Motacilla flava is a world traveler and spends winters in tropical Asia and Africa. In early spring the males return to England where each one stakes out a portion of a field or grassland to call his own. Territorial disputes seldom arise, but when they do, these feisty little birds vigorously defend their homes. Facing each other, they throw their heads back and puff out their chests. The most intense fighting breaks out after the females arrive, about three weeks after the males. When the fighting stops, and pairs settle down to courtship, the female selects the nest site within her male's territory. The cup-shaped nest is usually built on the ground and the female lays between three and eight eggs. The incubation period is often shared by both female and male and when the babies are born they are covered with soft down. In four days their eyes open and after only ten days, the babies can fly. Although fully fledged after the first seventeen days of life, their doting parents continue to feed them for several weeks.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Great Britain Westminster Collector's Society 15p Waterbird stamp issued January 16, 1980.

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): XB05768

US$ Price: Reg. $1,475.00 Today $737.50

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