Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens), Common Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), Havell plate no. 353

Winter 1836

Place madeCharleston, South Carolina, United States, North America

Watercolor, graphite, gouache, and black ink with touches of pastel, scratching out, and selective glazing on paper, laid on card

Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Sheet (paper): 19 1/16 × 13 5/8 in. (48.4 × 34.6 cm)

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

1863.17.353

The background flora has been identified as Willow oak (Quercus phellos) painted by Maria Martin; in the plate version the nest, belonging to the Bushtits, and the branches of the willow oak were done by Maria Martin.

DescriptionClockwise from upper right: Bushtit, male and female; Black-capped Chickadee, male and female; Chestnut-backed Chickadee, male and female.

MarkingsWatermark: JWHATMAN / 1836 [reversed]

InscribedInscribed at lower left in black ink: "J.J.A"; at lower left[below lower margin line ruled in graphite]: "Chesnut-backed Titmouse. 1. Male. 2. Female / Parus rufescens. Townsend. / No 71."; at lower center: "Black-capt Titmouse 3. Male 4 F. / Parus atricapillus, Wils. / Willow Oak. Quercus phelloes, L."; at lower right: "Chesnut crowned Titmouse, 5 M. 6. F. / Parus minimus, Townsend. -- / and Nest. / Plate 353 --"; at lower right in graphite[above lower margin line]: "Total length 5 1/4 -- / Alar extent 8 1/4 -- / Tail beyond Wings 1. 5/8 -- / Claws 5/8 shorter than and of[cut] / Phila.-- Carr's[?] Garden (Bar[cut, Bartram?] / Oct 30th 1836 -- / J.J.A"; at middle right[partially erased and cut]: "Male May 8th / 1835. -- / Male... / Ch... / Pl... / 3[cut] / 12... / F... / ...May 9th 18..."; above vertically: "Chesnut crowned Titmouse / Parus minimus. Townsend -- / 3d quill longest -- / 12 Tailfeathers slightly rounded -- / Total length 4 1/8 Inches --- / Flexure of wing 1 3/4 -- " -- / legs & feet black, eye, brown --"; birds numbered clockwise from middle left: "1"; "2"; "5"; "6"; "3"; "4"

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

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