- 435 exquisite reproductions of hand-colored prints of the original watercolors
- Detailed descriptions of American birds and their natural habitats, organized alphabetically from the avocet grazing in a tidal pond to the zenaida dove perched on a flowering branch
- Expertly researched by an avid outdoorsman and explorer, the stunning illustrations are based on Audubon's specimen collections from Florida to Labrador to Texas and the Dakotas
Straddling the line between science and art, this book mesmerized 19th-century audiences around the world. Today it stands as a reminder of the spectacular biodiversity of the North American continent, and of the pioneer spirit that Audubon himself revered.