A hand-coloured engraving of two Hooded Warblers perched on a flowering plant, from John James Audubon's *The Birds of America*. The print showcases Audubon's skill in combining scientific accuracy with artistic detail.

John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter, notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, *The Birds of America*, is a collection of 435 life-size watercolours of North American birds, published as a series of prints between 1827 and 1838. Audubon's meticulous approach combined scientific accuracy with artistic flair, setting a new standard for ornithological illustration. He is considered one of the foremost naturalists and bird artists in history. Plate 110, *Hooded Warbler*, presents two birds perched on a flowering plant. The male, with its distinctive black hood and yellow face, is shown in profile, while the female, with more subdued colours, is positioned below. The plant's leaves and flowers are rendered with precision, providing a naturalistic setting for the birds. Audubon's skill in capturing the birds' anatomy and plumage is evident in the fine details of the feathers and the lifelike poses of the subjects.