A guide to field identification Birds of North America

When John James Audubon completed his monumental work, The Birds of America, in 1838 every species he had depicted was still thought to be extant. In this regard, The Birds of America is critical for displaying the ornithological biodiversity during Audubon’s time. Yet during his research ventures, Audubon noticed that some species were, or had become, uncommon over a relatively short period. In honor of Endangered Species Day, let’s take a look at some of the birds of Audubon’s America, both those no longer with us, and those saved by the hard work of dedicated conservationists around the world.