Turkey buzzard
1827-1838
John James Audubon was famous for painting birds in dramatic, almost theatrical poses, and this plate from his monumental 'The Birds of America' is a perfect example. He depicts two Turkey Vultures (which he called Turkey Buzzards) perched on a dead branch, with the lower bird spreading its wings in a striking display. Audubon actually had a love-hate relationship with these scavengers; while he found them ugly and smelly, he admired their crucial role in cleaning up the environment. Creating this massive collection of life-sized bird illustrations took years and nearly bankrupted him, but it remains one of the most famous natural history works ever produced.
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