Snowy Owl (1832-1837)

John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and artist, celebrated for his detailed illustrations and studies of North American birds. Born in Haiti as the illegitimate son of a French sea captain, Audubon was raised in France and developed an early interest in nature and drawing. He moved to the United States at the age of 18, where he eventually committed himself to painting all of the birds of North America in life size, a project that resulted in his major work, "The Birds of America."