Capercaillie Cocks
1876
Ferdinand von Wright, a Finnish-Swedish artist famous for his bird illustrations, captured two male capercaillies in their natural habitat in 1876. These large grouse are shown perched on a mossy log, with one proudly displaying its dark plumage and striking red eyebrow, while the other preens its iridescent green feathers. The detailed realism reflects the 19th-century fascination with natural history and ornithology. Von Wright actually painted this during a time when capercaillie populations were declining, making it a precious record of the species.
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