Sanath Herath Sri Lankan, b. 1993
Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Muscicapa comitata), 2024
Watercolour on paper
21 x 18 in
53.3 x 45.7 cm
53.3 x 45.7 cm
The Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus), an endemic bird of Sri Lanka, thrives in the cool montane forests of places like Horton Plains. Known for building nests on mossy walls...
The Dusky Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus), an endemic bird of Sri Lanka, thrives in the cool montane forests of places like Horton Plains. Known for building nests on mossy walls or trees, this painting portrays a nest nestled in a Rhododendron arboreum (Rathmal), inspired by the artist's first sighting of this bird on this particular tree. Primarily insectivorous, the Dusky Blue Flycatcher is also known to consume tiny fruits like Rubus ellipticus, which is depicted here. The composition also includes two endemic butterflies, the Ceylon Tiger Butterfly (Parantica taprobana) and the Sri Lankan Hedge Blue (Udara lanka), which can be seen in the same Ecosystem adding a sense of motion and vibrancy. A Black-cheek Lizard (Calotes nigrilabris) is featured resting on the Rhododendron arboretum, a behavior common as it hunts insects attracted to the flowers. Through this painting, Sanath Herath highlights the intricate relationships within Sri Lanka’s montane ecosystems, celebrating their unique biodiversity.