Reddish Egret

This striking watercolor-style artwork depicts a Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) in its rusty-orange dark morph plumage, shown wading through shallow water in a characteristic hunting pose. The bird’s shaggy, disheveled neck and chest feathers — a hallmark of the species — fan out dramatically, while its distinctive two-toned bill transitions from pink at the base to dark at the tip, and a bright blue eye ring adds a vivid accent to its face. The composition blends photorealistic detail with loose, expressive watercolor washes of blue, white, and green in the background, evoking a coastal marsh or estuary habitat, with the bird’s warm amber and cinnamon tones contrasting beautifully against the cool, airy backdrop.