Plate 2. Yellow-billed Cuckoo - John James Audubon

This print by John James Audubon, titled *Plate 2. Yellow-billed Cuckoo*, showcases the artist's detailed observation and depiction of American birds in their natural environment. The hand-coloured engraving captures the beauty and scientific accuracy that define Audubon's work.

John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter, notable for his expansive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, *The Birds of America*, is a collection of 435 life-size prints. It is still regarded as one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon combined his skills as both an artist and a naturalist to create these detailed and lifelike depictions. His meticulous approach involved studying and painting birds from life, which contributed to the scientific accuracy and artistic appeal of his work. *Plate 2. Yellow-billed Cuckoo* features two birds perched among branches bearing fruit and leaves. One bird, with its back to the viewer, displays its black and white tail feathers. The other bird is shown in profile, with a butterfly resting on a leaf nearby. The composition is carefully arranged to showcase the birds' physical characteristics and their interaction with the surrounding flora, all rendered with precision and attention to detail.