Paruline à queue rouge
1827-1838
John James Audubon brings the American Redstart to life in this dynamic plate from his legendary 'Birds of America' series. The male bird in the center is caught mid-flutter, flashing his bright orange wings and tail to startle prey—a hunting technique called 'flushing.' You can see the result at the bottom: a detailed wasp nest teeming with insects, reflecting Audubon's initial classification of the bird as a flycatcher (note the Latin name *Muscicapa*). Above, a more subtly colored female perches on a scrub elm branch, watching the action unfold in this hand-colored engraving from 1827.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
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