Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this painting of birds in an undefined year with ink and watercolour on vellum. The composition centers on a stylized tree, its branches supporting an array of birds, each rendered with meticulous detail. The painting is contained within an ovoid border that creates a sense of enclosure and focus. Hoefnagel employs a vibrant colour palette to distinguish each bird species, enhancing their individual characteristics. The contrast between the dark plumage of the crow at the bottom-right with the brilliant blue of its counterpart on the bottom-left introduces a dynamic tension within the composition, inviting viewers to compare and contrast. The artist's attention to detail extends to the texture of the tree bark and the delicate leaves of the mistletoe. The symbolic arrangement of the birds and accompanying Latin inscriptions beneath and on the top alludes to broader themes of nature, knowledge and perhaps morality.