Long legs, vibrant colours, and coil spring neck: tourus craniac migratorus is the unlikely offspring of a flamingo and a whooping crane, its descendants further adulterated by a promiscuous bird of paradise.

Commonly known as the Vibrant Voyageur, the latest creation of folk-art carver Andrea Turnbull makes its way into Muskoka this month with an introduction at Silver Bridge Gallery in Bracebridge.

The saga of the Vibrant Voyageur began about a year ago, when the imaginative Turnbull, long known for her whimsical birds—handcarved and often combined with vintage elements such as rusty bedsprings, old newel posts and century-old flooring—came up with a newly conceived species based on information she had gleaned from the Planet Earth television series and from her bird guide books.

"The idea of mixing the real and the imaginary really appealed to me," says the artist. The "byrds" that make up her new species not only come with a complete lineage, but also display individual characteristics and personalities. Two of the byrds, Penelope and Mateo, were soon embarking on a spring sojourn in Spain and Portugal.

"Vibrant Voyageur," their debut at Silver Bridge Gallery, will celebrate the byrds’ discovery and their travels in 55 new mixed media works that combine Turnbull’s carving skills with her eye for unusual combinations.

The show opens on July 12, with a reception for birds and artist from 1pm to 4pm and continues until July 21.