The story of the bird
The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is the bird that stops non-birders in their tracks. A flash of electric blue-green along a canal or slow-moving river, present for less than a second and then gone. Up close it is surprisingly small - barely larger than a House Sparrow - with an orange underside and a bill that is disproportionately long and dagger-straight.
The kingfisher sits motionless on a low perch above water for long minutes, head slightly lowered, eyes fixed on a particular depth. Then it drops vertically, bill first, and resurfaces with a small fish held crosswise. It turns the fish head-first and swallows it whole. The whole sequence takes about four seconds.
The Audubon plate shows the bird perched on a low branch above a blue-green reflection, the bill angled slightly downward in the pre-plunge posture. The iridescent back colour shifts between blue and green depending on the angle of light - the plate captures the turquoise register, which is the most common appearance in overcast British light.
Paper and finish
Unframed prints come on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308gsm, a heavyweight cotton rag with a soft matte surface and true archival life. The surface holds fine lines and subtle colour gradients without glare, which matters for Audubon-tradition work where the cream ground needs to read as paper, not as a white field. The framed option is set in a classic moulding, glazed and ready to hang, in black, white or natural.
Sizes
Three sizes: 8x10, 16x20 and 24x30 inches, or an instant digital download at $9. Prints from $39. Framed from $99.
