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This is a print of three blue jays perched on a branch. The birds have bright blue plumage with small areas of white and black, and they are depicted on a gray branch adorned with green leaves and yellow and pink flowers. The topmost bird is using its beak and foot to break open a small white egg, yolk dripping down towards a second bird below that has its wings partially extended and its beak open. The third bird on the left holds a second egg in its mouth. The background behind the birds and branch is off-white paper.
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This is a print of three blue jays perched on a branch. The birds have bright blue plumage with small areas of white and black, and they are depicted on a gray branch adorned with green leaves and yellow and pink flowers. The topmost bird is using its beak and foot to break open a small white egg, yolk dripping down towards a second bird below that has its wings partially extended and its beak open. The third bird on the left holds a second egg in its mouth. The background behind the birds and branch is off-white paper.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Blue Jay

Robert Havell after John James Audubon

Date
1831
Medium
hand-colored engraving and aquatint on Whatman wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 65.3 x 55.2 cm (25 11/16 x 21 3/4 in.) sheet: 100 x 67 cm (39 3/8 x 26 3/8 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1945.8.102
Credit line
Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James
Time span
1826 to 1850
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
The Birds of America: Plate CII

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • etching
  • aquatint
  • Flower
  • bird
  • animal
  • Tree
  • Leaf
  • Jay
  • Eggs

NGA object ID 32243. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.