Corvus corax, common raven (1831-1841) by William MacGillivray

John James Audubon’s Birds of America is one of the best-known published ornithological works due to the quality and size of its extraordinary plates, and for being the most valuable natural history book in the world.

Less known is the lifelong friendship that Audubon shared with the artist William MacGillivray and the remarkable influence they had on the development of ornithology in Britain and the United States.

MacGillivray was an accomplished artist and considered one of Britain’s greatest ornithologists.

In his later years he was appointed Regius Professor of Natural History at Aberdeen University where he established the Zoology Museum. Similar to Audubon, he shot birds in order to examine and make careful descriptions of them. His prodigious output of scientific papers and books included collaboration with Audubon on his five volume Ornithological Biography which featured the drawings of Macgillivray and became the foundation stone of American ornithology.

Such was his strength of MacGillivray’s character that in 1819 he walked from Aberdeen to London writing detailed notes of his journey.

Upon his visit to the British Museum wrote ‘I felt my love of natural history very much increased by the inspection of the Museum’.

The Natural History Museum holds 214 watercolours by MacGillivray of birds, mammals and fishes, the bird illustrations rivalling those of Audubon on size and quality.