Pied Oystercatcher, c. 1834 by John James Audubon

Pied Oystercatcher, by John James Audubon captures the black-and-white shorebird mid-stride along a rocky shoreline, its long coral-red bill and pale legs rendered with Audubon's characteristic anatomical precision. Crashing surf and distant headlands frame the bird in dynamic, lifelike motion, true to the naturalist's practice of observing subjects in their coastal habitat. Audubon (American, 1785-1851) is renowned as the foremost bird artist of the 19th century, whose double-elephant folio The Birds of America remains the definitive achievement in ornithological illustration.

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851). Date: 1834.

Pied Oystercatcher, by John James Audubon. Ornithological Wall Art Canvas Print.