Birds on branches may feel almost comically obvious—but there’s a reason for that. A remarkable number of birds are literally built for it. Most of the species we encounter in backyards and forests belong to the order Passeriformes—the passerines, whose feet are designed with three toes forward and one back so they can grip a branch like a perfectly engineered clothespin. These “perching birds” make up roughly 60% of all bird species on Earth, meaning that statistically speaking, if you spot a bird, there’s a very good chance it’s meant to be sitting comfortably on a branch.

This series leans into that delightful inevitability. Birds on Branches celebrates the quiet, everyday posture of birds simply doing what evolution designed them to do: perch, pause, and occasionally look a little judgmental while doing it.

Mediums

Acrylic on canvas sheet, acrylic on canvas board