Great crested flycatcher
1827-1838
John James Audubon had a rather macabre way of capturing nature's beauty: he used wires to pose freshly killed birds into lifelike action scenes. In this dynamic plate, a Great Crested Flycatcher is caught in a dramatic dive, feathers scattering in the air, while its companion perches below with beak agape, seemingly shouting at the chaos above. Published as plate 129 in his monumental 'Birds of America,' this illustration showcases the bird's striking yellow belly and rusty tail with incredible scientific detail.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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