This original aquatint is Plate 310 from the double-elephant folio Havell edition of Audubon’s great work on American ornithology, which is the most important ornithological work produced in America. The complete work was produced in less than 200 copies. Audubon traveled throughout the U.S. and recorded 435 life-size images of every native bird in the country, depicting them in natural poses in their native habitats. This engraving depicts a pair of Spotted Sandpipers on a bayou in Louisiana. Spotted Sandpipers are common fresh water shore birds in the United States and Canada. This is Variant 2, engraved, printed and hand colored by Robert Havell. The papermaker's watermark "J. Whatman 1836" is at top left. The full sheet measures 27.3 x 21.7".

References: Low, pp. 162-63.

Condition: A

A clean, bright example with full, original color on watermarked paper and light toning visible on verso only.