Agachadiza americana
1827-1838
John James Audubon captured the American Woodcock in all its muddy glory here, likely using his signature technique of wiring freshly shot specimens into lifelike poses to show them 'in action.' You can see three distinct birds: two foraging intently in the dark mud with their long, sensitive bills, while a third hovers above with wings spread, showing off that intricate camouflage of brown, black, and rust feathers. This plate, number 54 from his massive 'Birds of America' project, was a labor of love to document every bird species in North America, printed on the largest paper available at the time to capture every detail.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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