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This hand-colored engraving by Prideaux John Selby depicts the Scops Eared Owl (Otus scops), perched on a moss-covered branch with small trailing foliage. The owl is shown in a side profile, its tufted “ears” and striking yellow eyes vividly rendered. The artist skillfully captures the bird’s textured plumage, blending warm browns, ochres, and whites, emphasizing its natural camouflage.
Part of Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), this plate highlights the artist’s precision in avian anatomy and plumage patterns, contributing to the early 19th-century understanding of British bird species.
The Scops Eared Owl, a rare visitor to Britain, is notable for its distinctive call and migratory habits.
Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology
Prideaux John Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology, published between 1821 and 1834, is one of the most significant works in 19th-century ornithological literature. Selby, an English naturalist and artist, produced a two-volume set that featured life-sized depictions of British birds, a departure from earlier works that used smaller formats. His background as both a scientist and an artist allowed him to render birds with remarkable accuracy and beauty.
