Summer Red Bird by John James Audubon

An archival premium quality art print of the Summer Red Bird or Summer Tanager by John James Audubon for sale by Brandywine General Store. Audubon painted this colorful bird for his ornithology book The Birds of America which was published in the 19th century. The tanager was picture number 44 in this epic book. Audubon shows a family of the summer red birds, a male, female and a young bird, all are in a muscadine vine. Pyranga Aestiva - Audubon says of the Summer Redbird or Tanager "This beautiful species is of solitary habits, preferring at all times the interior of the forests, but not the densest parts of them. I have observed that woods interspersed with what are called scrubby hickories or stunted oaks, are favourite resorts of the Summer Red-birds. Their residence in the United States scarcely exceeds four months. None remain in any of the more southern parts of our districts. Indeed, by the middle of September, it would be difficult to see a single pair in the forests of Louisiana. So very tender do they seem to be in regard to cold, or even temperate weather, that they seldom go farther north than Boston, or the shores of Lake Erie, but prefer the sandy woodlands all along the eastern shores, as far as Massachusetts. Their flight is performed in a gliding manner when passing through the woods, generally amidst the top brandies of trees. Whilst migrating, they rise high above the trees, and pursue their journeys only during the day, diving towards dusk into the thickest parts of the foliage of tall trees, from which their usual unmusical but well-known notes of chicky-chucky-chuck are heard, after the light of day has disappeared. This species feeds principally on insects, and especially coleoptera, some of which are often of larger size than a bird of the dimensions of the Summer Red-bird might be supposed capable of swallowing. It seldom alights on the ground, but prefers pursuing insects on the wing, which it frequently does from the dried twigs at the extremity of the branches. Audubon Birds art print #44