John James Audubon (American, b. Haiti, 1785–1851) was a daring and colorful character renowned for his adventurous nature, artistic genius, and obsessive interest in birds. He traveled the United States in search of his winged subjects, painting almost five hundred of the seven hundred or so regularly occurring North American bird species—including the stunningly beautiful White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus). This exotic-looking black-and-white seabird—with a yellow bill and a tail that can be longer than its body—plunges into the ocean to catch fish and squid. It nests on oceanic islands in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
Caution (WARNING: Choking hazard—small parts. Not suitable for children under 3 years.)