Audubon Bird Prints by Species: Owls, Herons, Waterbirds and Songbirds
With 435 plates in The Birds of America — and 422 framed Audubon works in our collection — the hardest part of hanging Audubon is choosing. The shortcut: shop by species family. Owls for offices and moody rooms, herons for elegant verticals, waterbirds for coastal color, songbirds for affordable charm. This guide walks each family with the best plates in stock, organized by Audubon's original plate numbers.
The Owls: Character Studies
Pl 97 Little Screech Owl — Framed from $275.09. Three owls on one branch — the most personality-per-inch in the whole folio. Also available in a warm-toned treatment as Audubon Screech Owl (from $346.49).
Columbian Day-Owl — Framed from $128.79. With its partner the Burrowing Day-Owl (from $129.49), the most affordable Audubon pairing on the site — a complete owl duo under $260 framed.
The Herons: Elegant Verticals
Audubon's wading birds are his most graceful compositions — tall, curved, architectural. Our collection carries six heron plates, enough for a full heron wall.
Pl 242 Snowy Heron — Framed from $292.59. The white-on-green stunner. Pair with the iconic Pl 211 Great Blue Heron (from $292.59) for the classic duo, or go deeper with Pl 217 Louisiana Heron (from $293.99), Pl 281 Great White Heron, Pl 256 Purple Heron and Pl 333 Green Heron (each from $289.09) — a six-plate heron gallery is the most elegant stairway wall we build.
The Waterbirds: Coastal Color
Pl 251 Brown Pelican — Framed from $340.89. The beach-house Audubon. Its sibling Pl 311 American White Pelican (from $289.09) makes the pair.
Pl 321 Roseate Spoonbill — Framed from $340.89. The famous pink plate. Round out the water family with Pl 226 Hooping Crane (from $297.49), Pl 216 Wood Ibis (from $295.39) and the beloved Pl 206 Wood Duck (from $297.49).
The Songbirds: Affordable Charm
Pl 12 Baltimore Oriole — Framed from $275.09. The songbird plates are Audubon at his most cheerful: Pl 102 Blue Jay (from $266.69), Pl 44 Summer Red Bird and Pl 131 American Robin (each from $266.69) cover blue, red and orange in three plates — a ready-made trio for kitchens and breakfast nooks. On a budget, the named-species set — Audubon's Warbler (from $167.99) and Audubon's Bunting (from $143.49) — delivers the look from $143.
The Icons: Turkey, Grouse & Woodpecker
Pl. 111 Pileated Woodpecker — Framed from $311.49. For cabins and dens, the trio of Pl 1 Wild Turkey (from $289.09), Pl 41 Ruffed Grouse (from $297.49) and the woodpecker is the definitive American-wilderness wall.
Building a Species Wall: The Framer's Rules
Pick one family and commit — six herons beat two herons plus two owls plus two ducks. Identical frames and mats throughout (walnut with double mats is our Audubon default), plate-number labels visible, and a wider bottom mat for the archival-folio look. Vertical plates (herons) in vertical arrangements; square-ish plates (owls, songbirds) in grids.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the plate numbers on Audubon prints mean?
They're the original publication order in The Birds of America (1827–1838). Pl 1 Wild Turkey opened the work; the numbers are part of each plate's identity and appear in our product titles.
What is the most famous Audubon print?
The Wild Turkey (Pl 1) is the most iconic, with the Great Blue Heron, Roseate Spoonbill and Brown Pelican close behind.
What's the most affordable way to collect Audubon?
The named-species songbird plates run from $143.49 framed, and the Day-Owl pair delivers two framed Audubon owls for under $260.
Do Audubon prints work in modern interiors?
Yes — framed in flat matte black with wide single white mats, the plates read as graphic art. The traditional walnut-and-double-mat treatment leans heritage; the frame choice sets the register.
Shop the Collection
Browse all 422 plates — organized by plate number — in the John James Audubon collection at FramedArt.com, every piece custom framed by hand in New Jersey. Deciding between masters? Read Gould vs. Audubon and the full antique bird prints guide.