Redbreasted Snipe – Macrorhamphus Griseus – Original Hand-Coloured Lithograph

Engraver: John Gerrard Keulemans
Publisher: L’Imprimerie Nationale
Price: £65
Publication Date: Not dated but c.1876
Format: Original hand-coloured lithograph
Condition: In very good condition, unframed
Sheet Size: Sheet Size: 32.5cm x 25cm

Condition:

Original hand-coloured lithograph. Minor age-toning to the margins. In very good indeed, clean condition overall. A rare plate from this important work.

Location: Map Drawer B: FS: Folder JGK 001855

Redbreasted Snipe: A Brief Description

The Red-breasted Snipe (Macrorhamphus griseus), commonly known as the Short-billed Dowitcher, is a medium-sized shorebird belonging to the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. Despite its name, the bird’s bill is relatively long compared to most other waders. It is most notable for its distinctive reddish-brown plumage during the breeding season and its probing feeding behaviour. The species is typically found along coasts, mudflats, and marshes across North and South America, but it can occasionally be spotted in western Europe as a rare vagrant.

Key Features of the Red-breasted Snipe:

1. Appearance:

• Size: The Red-breasted Snipe is a medium-sized wader, measuring around 23-32 cm (9-12.5 inches) in length, with a wingspan of about 46-56 cm (18-22 inches).
• Plumage: Its plumage changes significantly between breeding and non-breeding seasons:
  • Breeding Plumage: During the breeding season, the bird’s underparts are a rich reddish-brown, particularly on the breast and belly, with mottled greyish-brown and black on its back and wings.
  • Non-breeding Plumage: Outside the breeding season, its plumage becomes more subdued, with greyish-brown upperparts and paler underparts.
• Bill and Legs: The bill is long, straight, and dark, typically about the length of the bird’s head. Despite the name, it is longer than those of true snipes. The legs are greenish or yellowish.
• Eye Stripe: It has a subtle pale eyebrow stripe, called a supercilium, which is more noticeable during the non-breeding season.

2. Habitat:

• Breeding Habitat: The Red-breasted Snipe breeds in tundra and bogs across the sub-Arctic and boreal regions of North America, particularly in Canada and Alaska. It prefers wet areas with low vegetation and access to muddy or marshy feeding grounds.
• Non-breeding Habitat: During the winter, it migrates to the coasts, mudflats, and salt marshes of the southern United States, Central America, and northern South America. It is commonly found along tidal flats and shallow estuaries.

3. Diet:

• The Red-breasted Snipe is a probing feeder, using its long bill to search for food in soft mud and shallow water. It primarily feeds on:
  • Invertebrates such as small crustaceans, molluscs, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates.
  • Insects and their larvae are also part of its diet, particularly during the breeding season.
• It uses a repetitive “sewing machine” motion with its bill while foraging, probing the mud rapidly and deeply to locate prey.

4. Behaviour:

• Migratory: The Red-breasted Snipe is a long-distance migratory bird, travelling between its Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites in the southern hemisphere. It is known for forming large flocks during migration and wintering periods.
• Feeding Behaviour: The bird is often seen feeding in groups, sometimes alongside other wader species. Its probing foraging technique is highly specialised, allowing it to extract prey from mud and sediment.
• Vocalisations: The bird’s call is a soft, high-pitched “tu-tu” or “too-too”, which is typically heard in flight or when the birds are gathered in flocks.

5. Breeding:

• Breeding Grounds: The Red-breasted Snipe nests on the ground, typically in shrubby tundra or boggy areas with good cover and access to water.
• Nesting: The female lays 3 to 4 eggs in a shallow scrape lined with grass or moss. Both parents take part in incubating the eggs for about 21 days.
• Chicks: The chicks are precocial, meaning they are able to walk and feed themselves shortly after hatching, though they remain under parental care for some time.

6. Distribution:

• The Red-breasted Snipe breeds in North America, from Alaska and Canada to parts of the Arctic tundra. During the non-breeding season, it migrates to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, reaching as far south as Brazil and Argentina.
• It is a rare vagrant to western Europe, occasionally turning up in countries like the UK and Ireland, where birdwatchers are eager to spot this North American species.

7. Conservation Status:

• The Red-breasted Snipe is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. However, like many migratory shorebirds, it is vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly in its coastal wintering and stopover areas, where wetlands and mudflats are increasingly threatened by human activity, such as land reclamation and climate change-related sea-level rise.

Ecological Role:

The Red-breasted Snipe plays a vital role in the ecosystems it inhabits by controlling populations of invertebrates in mudflats and wetlands. Its migratory behaviour also links ecosystems across vast geographic areas, emphasising the importance of international conservation efforts for migratory species.

Conclusion:

The Red-breasted Snipe (Macrorhamphus griseus) is a fascinating and important migratory shorebird with distinctive feeding habits and striking breeding plumage. Found in Arctic tundra during the summer and coastal mudflats in the winter, this species plays a significant role in the health of wetland ecosystems. Though it is not considered endangered, ongoing conservation efforts are crucial to protecting its habitats, ensuring that it continues to thrive across its vast migratory range.

John Gerrard Keulemans: A Short Biography

John Gerrard Keulemans (1842–1912) was a prolific and influential Dutch bird illustrator whose work remains celebrated for its accuracy and artistic detail. He was born on June 8, 1842, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. From a young age, he showed an interest in natural history, particularly in birds, and this passion guided him toward a career in scientific illustration.

Early Life and Career

Keulemans studied under Hermann Schlegel at the Natural History Museum in Leiden, where he honed his skills as a naturalist and artist. This connection led to one of his early assignments: joining an expedition to West Africa in 1864 to collect specimens. His work during this period helped him establish his reputation as both a naturalist and an illustrator. He documented various species of birds, adding greatly to the knowledge of African avifauna.

Move to London and Prolific Period

In 1869, Keulemans moved to England, where he would spend the rest of his career. London at that time was a hub of scientific research and publishing, making it an ideal base for an artist like Keulemans. He quickly became a leading illustrator for many of the major ornithological works of the 19th century.

Major Works

Keulemans illustrated more than 100 books on natural history, with his most famous contributions to:

• “The Birds of Great Britain” (1862–1873) by John Gould – Keulemans contributed to many of Gould’s other works, but this publication remains one of the most significant.
• “A History of the Birds of New Zealand” (1873, 1888, 1906) by Sir Walter Buller – Keulemans’ illustrations were essential to the understanding of New Zealand’s birdlife.
• “The Ibis” and “Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London” – leading ornithological journals where Keulemans’ works regularly appeared.
• “The Avifauna of Laysan” and “The Birds of the Hawaiian Islands” by R. C. L. Perkins.

Keulemans’ distinctive style involved the meticulous depiction of birds in natural, life-like poses. His plates were highly detailed, showcasing the nuances of feathers and anatomy, and he often portrayed birds in natural habitats to highlight their behaviour and environment.

Style and Techniques

Keulemans mainly worked in lithography, a printmaking process that allowed for mass production of his artwork while maintaining high-quality detail. He was known for his ability to bring a bird’s plumage and colour to life on paper, despite the limitations of the printing techniques of the time. His method involved working with specimens, either from museums or from field collections, to create scientifically accurate and dynamic illustrations.

Personal Life

Keulemans lived in England for much of his life and married in 1871. He fathered 11 children, though only six survived into adulthood. Despite his immense output and contributions to science, Keulemans often struggled financially, a common challenge for many illustrators of his era.

Legacy

John Gerrard Keulemans passed away on March 29, 1912, in Ilford, Essex, England. His legacy is firmly cemented in the world of ornithological illustration. His works continue to be highly regarded for their scientific value and artistic beauty. Many of his original illustrations are held in museums and private collections, and his detailed depictions are still referenced by ornithologists and bird enthusiasts today.

Keulemans’ work represents an important bridge between the art of the natural world and scientific inquiry, providing invaluable insight into bird species from around the world during a period when photography was still in its infancy. His illustrations remain among the finest examples of ornithological art.

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