Great American Cock

William Home Lizars after John James Audubon

National Gallery of Art

A wild turkey standing among tall grasses and reeds against a cream-white background nearly fills this vertical, hand-colored etching. The bird’s body faces our right, and its pale, steel-blue, scrawny neck, small head, and short beak turn to look to our left in profile. Pink bulges line the bird’s neck, and its dark eye is wide and alert. A triangular, short, horn-like protrusion over the beak appears to be covered in fuzz. The turkey’s stout and robust body is covered with golden-orange feathers down its back and around the breast. Black and white striped wings are tucked along its body below, and the tawny-brown feathers of its tail fans out to nearly brush the ground. Feathers where the bird’s ribbed and scaly, pale pink and gray legs meet the body are striped ruby red and black. The bird strides to our right on a dirt ground with tufts of plants. The reeds, some of them bamboo-like, fade in the background around the turkey. Text at the top center of the print reads, “PLATE 1.” The artist’s name is printed below the image under the left corner: “Drawn by J.J. Audubon M.W.S.” Printed cursive text across the bottom margin of the page reads, “Great American Cock Male” and block letters read, “VULGO (WILD TURKEY--) Meleagris Gallopavo. A printed inscription under the right corner reads, “Engraved by W. H. Lizars. Edinr.”