Violet-green Cormorant and Townsend's Cormorant

Robert Havell after John James Audubon

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of two cormorants on a rock. One cormorant is depicted with striking iridescent green feathers, sharp eyes, and a sleek silhouette, while the other has subtler brown plumage and a more robust stance. Both birds are illustrated with naturalistic detail, including their webbed feet and streamlined bodies. The background suggests the horizon over an ocean or large body of water, and the overall ambiance is calm and natural.