Biographical Note:
America's greatest ornithological artist John James Audubon (1785-1851) came from his native Haiti to America in 1803. After an unsuccessful attempt at farming, Audubon turned his attention to collecting specimens of birds and portraying them in his inimitable paintings. After many years, he obtained financing in England for publication of the massive folio edition of The Birds of America, which established him as a major artist. Back in the United States, Audubon followed up the first edition of The Birds of America with his Ornithological Biography, a readable multi-volume companion to the massive plates, discussing the birds and his experiences studying them; the smaller, octavo edition of The Birds of America; and a similar publication on American animals, The Viviporous Quadrupeds of North America.

Jacket Description/Back:

Including the red-winged blackbird, painted bunting, wood duck, great blue heron, ruby-throated hummingbird, purple finch, and blue jay, 46 different species of birds from all parts of the United States are included in this book. The pictures have been faithfully redrawn by Paul E. Kennedy from originals by John James Aububon (1785-1851), the most famous American painter-naturalist.
For each species, the caption supplies the modern common and scientific names and the current range (by general region). No distinction is made between breeding range and winter range. Only the area of the United States, exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii, is considered. The birds shown are usually adult males when the caption does not give the information on age and sex.
Audubon's original plates, numbered to correspond to the pages of the book, have been reproduced in color on the covers. If you follow them, you will not only have a great deal of coloring pleasure, but you will also learn how to identify many important birds.

Including the red-winged blackbird, painted bunting, wood duck, great blue heron, ruby-throated hummingbird, purple finch, and blue jay, 46 different species of birds from all parts of the United States are included in this book. The pictures have been faithfully redrawn by Paul E. Kennedy from originals by John James Aububon (1785-1851), the most famous American painter-naturalist.
For each species, the caption supplies the modern common and scientific names and the current range (by general region). No distinction is made between breeding range and winter range. Only the area of the United States, exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii, is considered. The birds shown are usually adult males when the caption does not give the information on age and sex.
Audubon's original plates, numbered to correspond to the pages of the book, have been reproduced in color on the covers. If you follow them, you will not only have a great deal of coloring pleasure, but you will also learn how to identify many important birds.