Audubon in Louisiana

“Near Bayou Sara, Louisiana, I once slightly wounded two males, which I put into my hat in order to carry them home. The first, on being brought to the ground, was easily secured, but the case was different with the other. . . . It defended itself courageously, and pecked at my fingers with so much vigour that I was obliged to let it drop several times out of my hand. Confined in my hat, they remained still and sullen. . . . One of them died . . . probably through the great heat; the other, however, was well. . . . I kept this bird two days, but [then gave it] its liberty, and was glad to find that its wounded wing was so far healed as to allow it to fly . . . so that it had a good chance of being able to reach its favourite pines again.”

John James Audubon, Birds of America (New York: J.J. Audubon; Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844), vol. 4, p. 254-255.

View bird in National Audubon Society Guide to North American Birds.