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You Can Now Download 435 Bird Illustrations by Legendary John James Audubon for Free

By Margherita Cole on November 1, 2019

Louisiana Heron

The beauty of birds is as magical as it is diverse. Wildlife artist John James Audubon, namesake of the National Audubon Society, dedicated his talents to painting and describing all of the bird species of America, eventually culminating in his seminal Birds of America: a collection of 435 life-size prints based off of his own illustrations. Painted en plein air, John Audubon’s bird prints have long been coveted for their exactness as well as their outstanding beauty.

Now, the Audubon Society’s newly redesigned website displays all 435 reproductions of John Audubon’s work in alphabetical order with original accompanying text from the 1800s. And the best part is that you can also download all of The Birds of America plates in high resolution for free! Among the extensive library are favorites like the snowy owl, the Columbian humming bird, and the Louisiana heron, as well as bird species that are no longer found today, like the passenger pigeon.

All you need is a printer and paper to start curating your own collection of Audubon bird prints for around the home. Scroll down to see a selection of just some of our favorites.