Plate 7. Purple Grakle or Common Crow Blackbird 

This hand-colored engraving by John James Audubon, titled "Plate 7. Purple Grakle or Common Crow Blackbird," depicts two grackles perched on corn stalks. Audubon, a renowned ornithologist and artist, was known for his meticulous depictions of American birds, which he often portrayed in their natural habitats. The detail and realism of his work made them both scientifically valuable and aesthetically pleasing. "Birds of America" (1827-1838), a series of 435 life-sized prints, is considered one of his most famous and celebrated achievements.