This morning my wife pointed out a belted kingfisher down by the river. It was perched over one of the few places where the water is not covered with ice. I snapped a few photos, then inched closer, snapped a few more photos, and moved closer again. Now at home I’m studying the kingfisher in a way I have never been able to do when watching them in the wild. They tend to be elusive, and to move away fast when I approach. Here are three studies I’ve done today, in different media: ink, watercolor, and pencil.

The most vibrant one, done in colored pencil, is in the book I am handwriting for my infant grandson.

Three sketched kingfishers are perched on branches, labeled as Belted Kingfisher and dated 3 January 2026.A watercolor painting depicts a bird with a prominent crest perched on a branch.A vibrantly illustrated kingfisher is perched on a branch.