The demoiselle crane. Though it has a French name, this bird—the smallest of all the cranes—is native to northern Africa and parts of Eurasia, such as China and India.
This species, like other cranes, is celebrated in mythology and folklore. For example, Turkish folk songs fancy the bird a messenger of lovers (1). The creature’s graceful beauty seems ideally suited for such associations, even if my illustration fails to do it justice! By the way, demoiselle is French for “damsel.” This name was bestowed to it by one of the most famous queens in history. Marie Antoinette (2).
For illustrations of more feathered beauties, please check out Laura’s Create Art Every Day and Kerfe and Nina’s Method Two Madness. Laura started the monthly DAB Days, and Kerfe and Nina are doing the roundup of DAB Day illustrations from WordPress blogs. There will be links to a whole “flock” of drawings!
Sources:
- Kara, M, Teres, E. “The Crane as Symbol of Fidelity in Turkish and Japanese Cultures.” Milli Folklor. Yil 24, Sayi 95. p. 198–199.
- Mynott, J. Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009. p. 29.
A-wing and A-way 
I love the sideburns! don’t forget to put a link to your bird on my post. (K)
That thick tuft of feathers makes for an interesting “hair style”. Again, thanks for promoting DAB Day and, moreover, collecting all the links for the roundup!
It’s so much fun to see all the different birds.
Indeed! Thanks again for handling the online curating responsibilities!
It’s a wonderful drawing of a bird I didn’t know. Thanks again for letting us know about this day!
Thanks!
A beauty! N.
Thanks, Nina. It was fun, but now you can see why I let my wife handle the illustrations. 😉
Love your bird! 🙂
Jill, thank-you! Your hummingbird illustration and post now have the song “Good Vibrations” playing in my head.
Lol! 😃 I’m singing it now too!
She’s a beauty :-). Thanks for introducing me to a new bird. Her “rump” kind of reminds me of the “rumps” of fancy 18th century dresses.
You’re right, the “rump” is reminiscent of those dresses. Perhaps a fashion influence? I wouldn’t be surprised. Thanks again, Myriam!
Gorgeous, so regal looking.
Thanks, Rebecca!
Hey, you draw too! 🙂 I like it.
Thanks. Now you can see why I don’t usually provide the illustrations. But it’s nice to occasionally do one every now and then.
Please, do! 🙂
I have a couple of images I made of this bird. She …I think it was a she was in captivity at Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA. an amazing zoo for animals and birds not native to North America.
You’re drawing is lovely! How you managed to get the shape right is beyond me just yet. I’ll keep struggling to get shape and perspective right, but man! How I wish it came easily!
That watercolor of your house finch is beautiful! And so are all your photos. I agree that perspective and shape are difficult. Starting out with pencil helped me tremendously—I erased a lot!
Thank you so much M.R.! I erase a lot too. 🙂