American Goldfinches in the Library

Our road trip through the thirteen original colonies in honor of the 250th continues this month with the the American Goldfinch (Audubon plate 33).

Also commonly known as the Eastern Goldfinch, this is the New Jersey State Bird, established as such on June 1935.

We know from the bright yellow feathers that the male goldfinches shown in this print are depicted in summer! In the winter, their feathers turn a more dull grey/brown. The goldfinches are shown amongst the blooms of the common thistle.

The American Goldfinch is found throughout all of Massachusetts year-round. Click through to the Mass Audubon website to read more, including a transcription of Henry David Thoreau's observation of a goldfinch from A Week On the Concord and Merrimack Rivers

Be sure to round out your summer by visiting the library from August 11 through September 8 to see the American Goldfinch on display.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

The Baltimore Oriole Detours from Fenway to the State Library!

Our 250th road trip continues this month as we head to another colonial state; we're going south to Maryland, with the Baltimore Oriole! Just like the city, this bird is named after Lord Baltimore, Maryland's first proprietor, since its plumage was reminiscent of the colors in Lord Baltimore's coat-of-arms. And as you likely know, the city of Baltimore's baseball team has also adopted it as their name and mascot.

In the print, the male is shown with bright orange and black feathers, while the female is a more subdued brown. But the female is perched on another interesting feature in this print, the inclusion of the nest. Oriole nests are distinctive and impressive! They are hanging pouches, woven by female orioles and designed to hold seven to eight eggs. You can read more about them on the Audubon Society website. Also note the flowering blooms of the tulip tree. 

The Baltimore Oriole was on display last year during Women's History Month, with an interesting connection to a female artist and ornithologist sometimes referred to as "the other Audubon." Check that post out here, and visit us through August 11 to see the oriole on display! Since it has already been on display, after this exhibition, it will return to storage for the foreseeable future.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

A Double-Duty State Bird

Our next state bird deserves extra credit! Within the thirteen original colonies, the cardinal is the state bird of both Virginia and North Carolina. In fact, this popular bird is the state bird of five other states, too - Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The North Carolina State Assembly established the Northern Cardinal as its state bird in 1943, and seven years later, Virginia did the same on January 25, 1950.

Even though the cardinal is not our state bird, you can still spot them around Massachusetts. They are year-round residents, found from Cape Cod to Western Mass.

In this print, Audubon depicted the Cardinal Grosbeak (plate 159), with the vibrant male shown above and the more subdued female below. Both are shown in the branches of the wild almond tree. The cardinal was previously on display in January 2025, so after it is displayed for just three weeks this month, it will return to storage for the foreseeable future. Visit us from June 9 through June 30 for your chance to see it now.

We are also excited to share that as a special treat, the Bird of Washington will be on limited display from June 30 through July 14, in celebration of the country's 250th birthday!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Wrens Alight and Delight in the Library!

We're heading south this month, as we continue to commemorate the thirteen original colonies by displaying their state bird in our Audubon case. This month's print depicts the Great Carolina Wren (plate 78), which is South Carolina's state bird. But despite its name, the Carolina Wren has a large range and can be seen up and down the east coast.

Milder winters have contributed to the Carolina Wren venturing further north, and now you can spot these petite brown birds with a white stripe in both suburban landscapes and wilderness thickets here in Massachusetts. Read more and hear their call on the Mass Audubon website. And look closely at the wren at the top of this print, he looks like he is caught mid-call! 

We all know that "April showers bring May flowers" so in keeping with that theme for this month, this print was also selected for display because the Carolina Wren is shown in the vibrant flowering branches of the dwarf red buckeye (Aesculus pavia). Unfortunately, this shrub is native to the southern and eastern part of the country, so we aren't likely to see it here in Massachusetts. All the more reason to visit the library from May 12 through June 9 to see this print on display!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Welcome Spring with the American Robin!

Traveling through the thirteen original colonies by highlighting their state birds brings us to Connecticut this month! We're featuring the American Robin, which was designated as the state bird of Connecticut by the General Assembly in 1943. Audubon's print (plate 131) depicts the male, female, and young, all in the branches of the chestnut oak tree.

You may have seen images of the European Robin, which has similarities to the American Robin, but is a different group of bird entirely. So how did these two birds end up with the same name? The answer is that colonists thought the bird they were seeing in New England resembled the robin they knew at home, and started calling it by that name. 

Robins are sometimes considered to be a sign of spring, and as Massachusetts thaws out from a snowy winter, they are a welcome sight. Visit us from April 8 through May 12 to see the American Robin on display in our Audubon case.

This is our fourth state bird in our series, and you can catch up with all of those that have been featured here.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Bluebirds Visit for March

Our trip through the thirteen original colonies by way of their state birds continues this month with the bluebird (Audubon plate 113). The Eastern Bluebird was established as the New York State Bird in 1970. Shown in this print is the vibrant male soaring above, and the female below, feeding a young bluebird.

Highlighting the bluebird in March serves double-duty. March is Women's History Month, and a few years ago we featured Audubon's print 393, the Townsend Warbler, Arctic Blue-bird, and Western Blue-bird, to bring attention to the fact that in 1915, suffragettes in Massachusetts used the bluebird as a symbol of their movement. Read more about bluebirds for suffrage in our previous blog post.

We're excited for the chance to share a different bluebird print from Birds of America both for suffrage and as part of our state bird series. Visit us from March 10 through April 7 to see this vibrant print on display. And catch up on all featured state birds here.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Our Northern Neighbor on Display: The New Hampshire State Bird

Our celebration of state birds continues with the Purple Finch, the official state bird of our northern neighbor, New Hampshire. In this print (Audubon plate 4), the more subdued female is shown with two males, both with vibrant red-purple plumage. Their color palette is fitting for display in February, with the Valentine's Day holiday! The Audubon Society writes that Purple Finches are common in the north and east, and will readily come to birdfeeders, so you might see one outside your window.

The Purple Finch became New Hampshire's state bird on April 25, 1957. Its proposal had the backing of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, and the State Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Visit the library from February 10 through March 10 to see the Purple Finch on display. And if you missed last month's display of Massachusetts' Black-capped chickadee, you can check it out here.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian  

Massachusetts State Bird on Display!

In honor of the country's 250th birthday, we'll be sharing the state birds of some of the thirteen original colonies in our Audubon case throughout the year. Of course, we're starting off with Massachusetts state bird, the Black-capped chickadee. At first pass, we couldn't find this bird in Birds of America, but that is because it is labeled as  "Black-capt Titmouse." The titmouse and chickadee are part of the Paridae family, and older language referred to both as titmouse, which explains why there are no chickadees found in Birds of America. Plate 353 shows the Black-capt Titmouse (bottom center, detail below) along with the Chestnut-backed Titmouse and the Chestnut-crowned Titmouse. They are shown with an impressive nest in the branches of the willow oak tree.

The Massachusetts Legislature designated the Black-capped chickadee as the state bird on March 21, 1941 (1941 Mass. Acts Ch. 121). These are hearty non-migratory birds, which means that they can withstand Massachusetts' harsh winters and can be spotted throughout the year (and in all corners of the Commonwealth). 

Read more about them on the Mass Audubon website, and visit us from January 13 through February 10 to spot one in the library!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Two Water-hens 🎵🎵

This month, stop by the library to see the Least Water-hen (plate 349) on display in our Audubon case. Featuring both the male and the young hen, the water-hens are shown in a marshy environment. You may think that "male" is a typo here, because hens are female chickens, but in fact the water-hen is not a chicken. Water-hens are aquatic birds from the rail family, and their name comes from their resemblance to chickens.

Audubon fans who have paid close attention for the last few years may have noticed that in December we try to display a bird featured in the "Twelve Days of Christmas!" Birds of America doesn't include any traditional hens or chickens, but the water-hen comes close! We have previously shared four colly (calling) birds, turtledoves, and a partridge!

Visit us from December 9 through January 13 to see the water-hens on display, and our apologies if "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is now stuck in your head!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Hawks in the Library!

This month, Audubon's Goshawk and Stanley Hawk (plate 141) take off from the pages of Birds of America and land in the library's reading room. Hawks are birds of prey that are also known as raptors, and are distinguished by their hook-shaped beaks and  powerful sharp talons. Included in the print are the adult Goshawk (front standing, facing left) and the young Goshawk (perched on the branch), with the adult Stanley Hawk in the back, facing right. The Goshawk can be found in Massachusetts, but it is not commonly seen as its numbers have dwindled due to deforestation. You can read more about the American Goshawk on the Commonwealth's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife webpage.

For Native American Heritage Month, we try to feature a bird that has a symbolic meaning for the Indigenous community, and in this case, hawks signify power, courage, and strength. Last year we shared the wild turkey and the year before we shared the Great Blue Heron, both with a connection to the Wampanoag Tribe.

Visit us from November 12 through December 9 to see the hawks on display.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Barn Owls Swoop Into the Library

A striking yet eerie sight awaits you in the State Library this October! The Barn Owl (plate 171) is on display in our Audubon case. With its distinctive white heart-shaped face and dark eyes, it has a ghostly appearance as it flies and perches in the night. Both the male and female are shown, along with an unfortunate squirrel. 

The Barn Owl is nocturnal, and this is one of only a few Audubon prints that depicts a nighttime scene. Unlike other owls, they screech rather than hoot, so if you hear one at night you might get a bit of a spine-tingle!

In Massachusetts, they are a species of greatest conservation need. You can read more about them on the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife page.

Visit us from October 14 through November 12 to see the Barn Owls on display. And read about our other spooky October birds here: Raven, Common Crow Blackbird, and Vulture.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

A Collection of Corvids in the Library!

It's a four-for-one special in this month's Audubon! Featured in plate 362 is I. Yellow billed Magpie; 2. Stellers Jay; 3. Ultramarine Jay; 4. Clark's Crow (which is also known as Clark's Nutcracker). The magpie is in the center, with two jays above and crows below. All of these birds are members of the Corvidae (Corvid) family, which includes over 139 species! So why are they being displayed for September? In keeping with the month's back-to-school theme, we're highlighting the print full of corvids because they are known to be amongst the most intelligent birds. Species in this family have tool-making abilities, memory skills, and show self-awareness. Young corvids have also been observed participating in complex games.

Also shown in the print is a rather large acorn, this is a significant addition to the print because, similar to squirrels, some corvids engage in scatter hoarding. They bury acorns in different locations and then retrieve them at a later date. There's that good memory in action!

Find some inspiration to be head of the class this school year by visiting the library and checking out the corvids. They are on display from September 10 through October 14, and you can read more about each of them in the Audubon Field Guide: Yellow-billed Magpie, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Clark's Nutcracker.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Lesser Terns Alight in the Library

August marks one more installment in our summer of Audubon shorebirds! We are rounding out the season with the Lesser Tern (plate 319), which is also known as the Least Tern. This moderately sized shorebird is found in Massachusetts on both sandy and gravelly beaches. The Commonwealth's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has a webpage devoted to the least tern, where we learned that in 2024 there were 89 breeding sites in Massachusetts. Sometimes, the least tern nests alongside the piping plover since they have similar nesting requirements!

 
The least tern has been identified as a species of greatest concern by the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan. You can read all about the tern on the SWAP website, including information about its lifecycle, habitat, and conservation. 

In Audubon's print, the black capped bird is labeled as "adult spring plumage" which is its breeding plumage. Also shown is the young tern, which is more brown.

Visit our reading room from August 12 through September 9 to see the print on display.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Spot a Sandpiper in the Library!

Our summer of Audubon shorebirds continues this month with a depiction of the Semipalmated Sandpiper (plate 405). Interestingly, this is one of thirteen sandpipers included in Birds of America! With so many to choose from, we picked the semipalmated sandpiper because it is one of the most commonly found small sandpipers in Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has a page devoted to the semipalmated sandpiper, where we learned that it is species of greatest conservation need, due in part to a vulnerability caused by a reduction in their breeding ground from climate change and beach erosion. But even with their declining numbers, they are still often found on sandy Massachusetts shorelines, so you might just spot one on your next beach trip. They move fast and are tiny, so you will have to be on your toes!

If you want to guarantee seeing a semipalmated sandpiper, then plan your visit to see our displayed print. It will be on view from July 8 through August 12 in our reading room! 

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Catch an Oystercatcher in the Library!

With summer and beach days on the horizon, it's time to share some shorebirds in our Audubon case! This month, we're displaying the Pied Oyster-catcher (plate 223). A fun addition to this depiction is an as-seen-from-above sketch of its head and long beak; the only other time that we've seen this addition to Audubon's prints is in the American Flamingo. 

According to the Bird Observer website, American Oystercatchers are migratory shorebird that breed from Maine all the way to Florida. Here in Massachusetts, 25% of the state’s oystercatchers have nested on Nantucket, 20% on Martha’s Vineyard, 15% on the Bristol County coast of Buzzards Bay, and 16% in Boston Harbor (link). Maybe you will spot one, with its bright-colored and prominent beak, on your next beach trip!

Visit us from June 11 through July 9 to catch the oystercatcher in our reading room! And check out our previously featured shorebirds here: piping plover, herring gull, brown pelican.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Magnolias and Cuckoos - Oh My!

From flowers, to leaves, and even weeds, everything is blooming in May. In keeping with that theme, a magnolia blossom is taking center stage in this month's featured Audubon print! In fact, the subject of the print, the Black-billed Cuckoo, almost seems to blend in with its surroundings in deference to the Great Magnolia (MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA). In this print (plate 32) the male (right) and the female (left) are shown in the branches of the blooming magnolia tree. Audubon even illustrated the magnolia blossom in three different phases; closed, in full bloom, and on its way out. In warmer climates, magnolias bloom as early as March, though here in the northeast they don't bloom until late April, and you might even spot them as late as May.

The brown feathers of the cuckoo almost camouflage it into the surrounding foliage, which might have been an intentional choice. According to the Audubon Field Guide, the cuckoo is described as "slipping furtively through leafy thickets, this slim, long-tailed bird is heard more often than seen." Read more about this elusive bird and hear its birdcall on the Field Guide website, and visit us from May 6 though June 10 to see the print on display in our reading room.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Quack Quack! There are Mallards in the Library!

There are signs of spring in Boston, so it's a fitting time to feature the mallard in our Audubon case! This time of year, mallards return to their breeding grounds, pair up, nest, and then raise ducklings. Shown here are two pairs of males and females - males are distinguished by the green feathers on their heads, while females have brown. In the print, they are shown in a marshy habitat, but you are also likely to see friendly mallards in city parks! This was not the case in the 1830s, as Audubon wrote in his description that, "this valuable species is extremely rare in the wild state in the neighbourhood of Boston in Massachusetts; and in this assertion, I am supported by my talented and amiable friend Mr. Nuttall, who resided there for many years."

We wish that Audubon had thought to include some adorable ducklings in the print, too! To see those, you'll need to wander down to the Public Garden to see the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture, but be sure to stop in and visit us from April 15 through May 7 to see the Mallard Duck (plate 221) on display in our reading room.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian   

Genevieve Estelle Jones and the Baltimore Oriole

We're in Massachusetts, so why is Maryland's state bird, the Baltimore Oriole (plate 12), on display in our Audubon case? The answer is that we are using it to promote the work of Genevieve Estelle Jones, who is sometimes referred to as the "other Audubon," for Women's History Month. Not to mention that the blooms of the tulip tree, where the orioles are perched, is a welcome reminder that spring is on its way.

Genevieve Estelle Jones was born in 1847 in Circleville, Ohio.  Her interest in ornithology started as a young child, when she was drawn to identifying the nests and eggs associated with different birds, and it was seeing the nest of the Baltimore oriole that first caught her attention. As a adult, Jones saw a display of Audubon prints when she visited Philadelphia's Centennial Exhibition in 1876, and noted that the prints did not usually include a depiction of nests or eggs. [Interestingly, the Baltimore Oriole is an exception to this, as the unusual hanging pouch-like nest is featured prominently in this print.] After identifying this omission, Jones was inspired to produce drawings of nests and eggs, which was ultimately published as Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio, and can be seen as a companion piece to Audubon's Birds of America. Sadly, Jones only completed five of the drawings before she succumbed to Typhoid fever and died in 1879. Her parents and her brother continued the project after her death, and the two-volume set was completed in 1886. Like Birds of America, it was published by subscription

Genevieve Estelle Jones is not as well-known an artist or ornithologist as John James Audubon, but we're glad for the opportunity to use the print of Baltimore Oriole to tell a little bit of her story. We don't have a copy of Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio in our collection, but you can view it in its entirety through the Internet Archive.

Be sure to visit us from March 11 through April 8 to see the Baltimore Oriole on display. And revisit our Audubon from last March's Women's History Month display, when we shared the blue bird and explained its significance to the Massachusetts Women Suffrage Association.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

A Pair of Lovebirds in the Library

Love is in the air in February and in the library, too! On display in our reading room are Audubon's Zenaida Doves (plate 162). In this print, the female is shown in flight, while the male is perched below on the branches of the purple-flowered anona.

A pair of doves are often a symbol of love, loyalty, and devotion, due in part to their proclivity to mate for life. And in Greek mythology, they are associated with Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. In keeping with the love theme, the Zenaida Dove was introduced in 1838 by French botanist Charles Lucien Bonaparte and named in honor of his wife Zénaïde.

In the 1830s, Audubon found the Zenaida doves nesting in the Florida Keys, but you would have a more difficult time finding them there now. The doves are more readily found in the Caribbean and are only rare visitors to Florida. Read more about them, and hear their birdcall, on Cornell University's Ornithology Lab's webpage. And visit us from February 11 through March 11 to see the print on display - maybe make it a date with your Valentine or Galentine!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Good Luck Cardinals in the Library

Happy New Year! We're starting the year off by sharing Audubon's Cardinal Grosbeak (plate 159) in our reading room. The bright red cardinal is the male, and the female, with the red-tinged wings, is perched below. Both are shown in the branches of the wild almond tree.

Cardinals are considered by some to be a symbol for the New Year, since they represent hope, joy, and good luck. In Massachusetts, these are year-round birds, and with their vibrant red color they can look especially striking against snowy scenery or winter's grey days. You can read more about the cardinal and hear its bird call on the Mass Audubon website.

Curious about the Audubons that were exhibited in Januaries past? In 2024 we displayed the Snow Quail, a northern bird which turns white in the winter to camouflage itself into its snowy surroundings! And in 2023, we shared an adorable pair of puffins. 

Visit us from January 8 through February 11 to see the cardinals on display.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian