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Picoides borealis, red-cockaded woodpecker
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Picoides borealis, red-cockaded woodpecker
Plate 389 from John James Audubons Birds of America, original double elephant folio (1835-38), hand-coloured aquatint. Engraved, printed and coloured by R. Havell (& Son), London
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Media ID 8578405
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10704854
Aquatint Audubon Bill Birds Of America Endangered Perched Perching Picidae Piciformes Sauropsid Sauropsida Striped Tail Woodpecker Picoides Red Cockaded Woodpecker
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This stunning and intricately detailed illustration showcases the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis, in all its beauty and elegance. Plate 389 from John James Audubon's iconic work, "Birds of America," was produced between 1835 and 1838, and is a testament to the artist's unparalleled skill and dedication to natural history. The woodpecker is depicted perched confidently on a bare branch, its vibrant red crest and distinctive black and white stripes standing out against the muted background. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a small, endangered species endemic to the southeastern United States. With a long, chisel-like bill and a distinctive red "cockade" on the back of its head, this woodpecker is a member of the order Sauropsida, class Aves, and family Picidae. Its diet consists primarily of insects, particularly beetles and ants, which it locates by tapping on tree trunks and listening for the sound of larvae moving beneath the bark. The illustration was produced using the aquatint technique, a complex and labor-intensive process that involved engraving the plate with tiny dots and then applying a solution of rosin and turpentine to create a textured surface. The plate was then hand-colored using watercolors, resulting in a rich and vibrant image that captures the essence of this remarkable bird. Audubon's "Birds of America" is considered a masterpiece of natural history illustration, and this plate in particular is a testament to the artist's commitment to documenting the natural world in meticulous detail. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker, with its striking appearance and endangered status, is a fitting subject for such an iconic work.
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