"Belted Kingsfisher", Audubon, J. J.

This original chromolithograph is Plate 255 from the double-elephant folio Bien edition of Audubon’s great work on American ornithology. The Belted Kingfisher is one of only three Kingfisher species that exist in North America, although there are over 90 species of Kingfishers throughout the world. Unlike most bird species, the female Belted Kingfisher is actually more colorful than the male, and gives this species its name due to the bands of color around her throat and breast. This print shows a female enjoying a fish with one male perched near her and another flying overhead. Set within a background of a Louisiana bayou, which is the kingfisher's favorite habitat.

References:

Condition: A+

Spectacular color with expert paper restoration to a small tear in left-hand side of blank margin, far from image.