The Mistletoebird by Ken _Gilliland

Poser • Animals • posted on Jun 28, 2010

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

The Mistletoebird is found throughout mainland Australia. It is also found in Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. The Mistletoebird is common wherever mistletoe grows and is important in the dispersal of this plant species. It is highly adapted to its diet of mistletoe berries. It lacks the muscular gizzard (food-grinding organ) of other birds, instead having a simple digestive system through which the berries pass quickly, digesting the fleshy outer parts and excreting the sticky seeds onto branches. The seed can then germinate quickly into a new plant. In this way, the Mistletoebird ensures a constant supply of its main food. It will also catch insects, mainly to provide food for its young. In cold weather, the Mistletoebird can undergo torpor, which is the slowing down of bodily functions to conserve energy. Rendered in Poser Pro without any postwork. Models: Mistletoe and the bird (me/SBRM Australia2). The background trees are xFrog's Ghost Gums for their Oceania Vol 2 Plant Library.