Image: The Ultimate Bird Drawing Throwdown Showdown Graphic featuring images of David Sibley and H. Jon Benjamin

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Illustrator David Sibley and actor H. Jon Benjamin will face off in the bird illustration battle of the century during BirdNote's Year-end Celebration and Auction!

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Shows With Contributions by J. Drew Lanham

A yellow bird with black face markings and olive green-yellow wings is perched on a branch in partial sunlight, facing the viewer.

Letter to a Kentucky Warbler

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a Kentucky Warbler, an “uber-skulky” species that’s hard to find but brings “warbler-iffic joy” when Drew hears them.
A small trim bird looks directly at the viewer as it perches on the end of a broken branch.

Letter to an Olive-sided Flycatcher

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a beloved bird that he pleads with to visit the dead pine tree on the edge of his home by a mountain lake.
Male pileated Woodpecker seen in profile, showing long sharp beak, black body, white stripes on the throat and bright red crest feathers on his head

Letter to a Pileated Woodpecker

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a Pileated Woodpecker, a large species of woodpecker that is sometimes mistaken for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
A small slender bird with short pointed beak, pale breast and grey-brown head sits atop a broken branch, against a diffused green background.

Letter to an Eastern Wood-Pewee

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a wood-pewee, a flycatcher with an “understatedly simple and definitive” song that says the bird’s name.
A small plump bird with dark charcoal-color plumage, pink beak, and white belly is perched on slender dry branches.

Letter to a Dark-eyed Junco

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham shares a note he has written to a Dark-eyed Junco, which he fondly nicknames “snowbird.”