John James Audubon

Wild Turkey Cock, Hen and Young is one of the first oil paintings John James Audubon created in relation to his famous publication Birds of America (1827-1838). The birds are set in an idealized scene, but in reality, native populations of turkeys were starting to decline. As settlers continued to clear lands and move westward, they left little habitat or food for the birds. With no regulations on hunting, the wild turkey was lost from 18 of its original 39 states by 1920.