Terns, Pl. 9 — Kouba

Marsh terns depicted in both breeding and winter plumage, revealing the subtle distinctions that define each species.

František Kouba. Plate 9. From Zoographia Infinita. Published in Prague, c. 1900.

The Czech and German ornithological atlases of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries represent a high point in scientific bird illustration, combining artistic skill with scientific accuracy and detailed depictions of plumage variations across seasons and age classes.

Chromolithograph. Sheet size approximately 41.0 × 30.2 cm. Good condition, with some minor discolouration and edge wear consistent with age.