Discover Jonathan Adler Warnicke Spoonbill Art Series [0wpxea6b]

This image, based on a plate from American Ornithology (published 1808–1814), represents the earliest study of American birds. The predecessor of John Audubon, Alexander Wilson was a Scottish-American poet, naturalist and illustrator, and heralded as “the Father of American Ornithology.” Wilson illustrated 268 birds in all, 26 of which had not been previously described. The inclusion of multiple species on the same plate is a result of the small budget Wilson had to work with.