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Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus), Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii)?, Study for Havell pls. 394 and 400
Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus), Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii)?, Study for Havell pls. 394 and 400
Artist/Maker (1785 – 1851)
Other Artist (1812 - 1862)

Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus), Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii)?, Study for Havell pls. 394 and 400

1821-1837
Watercolor, graphite, black ink, and gouache with touches of pastel on paper, laid on card
Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Sheet (paper): 17 7/16 × 11 3/4 in. (44.3 × 29.8 cm)
Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon
1863.17.400
The bird that Audubon named "Townsend's finch" has never been found again, it may have been a cross between a Dickcissel and a Blue grosbeak.
DescriptionFrom upper to lower: Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), male; Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), male; Black-headed Siskin (Spinus notata), male; Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), female; Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni), male; Townsend's Bunting (Emberiza townsendii), male. The Black-headed Siskin was used for Plate 394 and the remaining birds were reoriented for Plate 400.
InscribedInscribed at upper left in graphite: "Emberiza Picta, Swain. / Buff coloured Bunting / Male. -- / 2d quill longest. 1st nearly / equal -- primaries alternated / ...but such on the outer edges / Tail 2 1/4 Inches --"; at the middle left: "Louisiana Tanager / Tanagra ludoviciana. / old Female."; below: illegibly rubbed with fingerprint; at lower left: "Townsend's Finch / Fringilla Townsendii. / Aud."; at lower right: "Linola flavirostris?"; at middle right: "Black-headed Siskin / Fringilla magellanica. Viell[cut] / Male bird -- February -- / 1818. / reversed"; above vertically: "Oregana -- / pallida -- / Lazuli."; at upper right: "Arkansaw Siskin, Male / Fringilla Psaltria, Say."; five birds numbered from lower to upper: "1"; "2 / 2"; "3"; "2"; "5"; at upper right corner: "400"; erased inscriptions throughout
ClassificationsDRAWINGS
Collections
  • Audubon's Watercolors for The Birds of America
Siskin (Carduelis spinus), Female
Pierre Vase
ca. 1554-1564
1889.10.4.23
Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere
James Wyld
ca. 1819–1827
INV.1140