William Swainson Collection

Grey-rumped Tree Swift
Illustration of a Grey-rumped Tree Swift by William Swainson (1789-1855)

African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis (Lineated cuckoo, Cuculus lineatus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars
FLO4651088 African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis (Lineated cuckoo, Cuculus lineatus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's

Senegal coucal or Senegal lark-heel, Centropus senegalensis. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after
FLO4650999 Senegal coucal or Senegal lark-heel, Centropus senegalensis. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library

Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus (Fire-backed sunbird, Cinnyris erythronotus)
FLO4650980 Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus (Fire-backed sunbird, Cinnyris erythronotus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas (Klas's golden cuckoo, Chalcites klassii)
FLO4650978 Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas (Klas's golden cuckoo, Chalcites klassii). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus (Fork-tailed, blue-vented bee-eater, Merops hirundinaceus)
FLO4650954 Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus (Fork-tailed, blue-vented bee-eater, Merops hirundinaceus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir

Robin flycatcher, Muscicapa rubecola. Known only from a specimen in the Paris Museum
FLO4650855 Robin flycatcher, Muscicapa rubecola. Known only from a specimen in the Paris Museum. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir

African blue-flycatcher, Elminia longicauda (Caerulean or long-tailed flycatcher, Myiagra longicauda)
FLO4650840 African blue-flycatcher, Elminia longicauda (Caerulean or long-tailed flycatcher, Myiagra longicauda). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William

New Zealand fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa (White-shafted fan-tail, Rhipidura flabellifera)
FLO4650758 New Zealand fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa (White-shafted fan-tail, Rhipidura flabellifera). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata (Red-eyed pigeon, Turtur erythrophrys)
FLO4651115 Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata (Red-eyed pigeon, Turtur erythrophrys). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Blue-bellied or blue-bodied roller, Coracias cyanogaster. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William
FLO4651097 Blue-bellied or blue-bodied roller, Coracias cyanogaster. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library

Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra (Yellow-billed waterhen, Gallinula flavirostra)
FLO4651039 Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra (Yellow-billed waterhen, Gallinula flavirostra). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus, female (Three-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles tricinctus)
FLO4651013 Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus, female (Three-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles tricinctus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir

Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava (White-eyebrowed longtail, Drymoica superciliosa)
FLO4650908 Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava (White-eyebrowed longtail, Drymoica superciliosa). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Lowland peltops, Peltops blainvillii (Fork-tailed gaper, Eurylaimus blainvilli)
FLO4650880 Lowland peltops, Peltops blainvillii (Fork-tailed gaper, Eurylaimus blainvilli). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William

Black-and-red broadbill, Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos (Black-billed gaper, Cymbirhynchus nasutus)
FLO4650877 Black-and-red broadbill, Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos (Black-billed gaper, Cymbirhynchus nasutus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis (White-collared flycatcher, Muscicapa albicollis)
FLO4650851 Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis (White-collared flycatcher, Muscicapa albicollis). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Asian paradise-flycatcher (Himalayan), Terpsiphone paradisi leucogaster (White-bellied flycatcher)
FLO4650833 Asian paradise-flycatcher (Himalayan), Terpsiphone paradisi leucogaster (White-bellied flycatcher, Muscipeta leucogaster)

Common tody-flycatcher, Todirostrum cinereum (Black-headed tody, Todus melanocephalus)
FLO4650789 Common tody-flycatcher, Todirostrum cinereum (Black-headed tody, Todus melanocephalus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir

White-throated spadebill, Platyrinchus mystaceus (Yellow-crested flat-bill, Platyrinchus cancromus)
FLO4650785 White-throated spadebill, Platyrinchus mystaceus (Yellow-crested flat-bill, Platyrinchus cancromus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William

Masked water tyrant, Fluvicola nengeta (Mocking water-cat). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an
FLO4650747 Masked water tyrant, Fluvicola nengeta (Mocking water-cat). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Screaming piha, Lipaugus vociferans (Grey piha, Lathria cinerea). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after
FLO4650709 Screaming piha, Lipaugus vociferans (Grey piha, Lathria cinerea). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Green-headed sunbird (Lower Guinea), Cyanomitra verticalis cyanocephala (Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris chloronotus)
FLO4650998 Green-headed sunbird (Lower Guinea), Cyanomitra verticalis cyanocephala (Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris chloronotus)

Western purple-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei (White-bodied sunbird, Anthreptes leucosoma)
FLO4651113 Western purple-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei (White-bodied sunbird, Anthreptes leucosoma). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii (Senegal courier, Tachydromus senegalensis)
FLO4651011 Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii (Senegal courier, Tachydromus senegalensis). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Annobon paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone smithii, Vulnerable. (Rufos-bellied flycatcher, Muscipeta rufiventer)
FLO4650971 Annobon paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone smithii, Vulnerable. (Rufos-bellied flycatcher, Muscipeta rufiventer)

Pennant-winged nightjar, Macrodipteryx vexillarius (Macrodipteryx africanus)
FLO4650926 Pennant-winged nightjar, Macrodipteryx vexillarius (Macrodipteryx africanus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Javan white eye, Zosterops flavus (Yellow white eye, Zosterops flava). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars
FLO4650923 Javan white eye, Zosterops flavus (Yellow white eye, Zosterops flava). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's

Grey-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis (Grey-headed flycatcher, Cryptolopha poiocephala)
FLO4650827 Grey-headed canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis (Grey-headed flycatcher, Cryptolopha poiocephala). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William

Brown-throated watt-eye, Platysteira cyanea (Show tody, Platystera lobata)
FLO4650821 Brown-throated watt-eye, Platysteira cyanea (Show tody, Platystera lobata). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William

Golden monarch, Carterornis chrysomela (Golden-hooded flycatcher, Monacha chrysomela)
FLO4650773 Golden monarch, Carterornis chrysomela (Golden-hooded flycatcher, Monacha chrysomela). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir

Spectacled tyrant, Hymenops perspicillatus (Spectacle or white-winged water-chat, Perspicilla leucoptera)
FLO4650754 Spectacled tyrant, Hymenops perspicillatus (Spectacle or white-winged water-chat, Perspicilla leucoptera). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William

Green-backed becard, Pachyramphus viridis (Cuvier's that-bill, Pachyrhynchus cuvierii)
FLO4650714 Green-backed becard, Pachyramphus viridis (Cuvier's that-bill, Pachyrhynchus cuvierii). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Black-crowned tityra, Tityra inquisitor (Rufos-eared black-cap, Psaris erythrogenys)
FLO4650711 Black-crowned tityra, Tityra inquisitor (Rufos-eared black-cap, Psaris erythrogenys). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir

Reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus (Long-tailed cormorant, Carbo longicaudus)
FLO4651051 Reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus (Long-tailed cormorant, Carbo longicaudus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Greater crested tern, Thalasseus bergii (Crested tern, Sterna cristata). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars
FLO4651014 Greater crested tern, Thalasseus bergii (Crested tern, Sterna cristata). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's

Yellowbill (Senegal), Ceuthmochares aereus flavirostris (Yellow-billed coucal, Zanclostomus flavirostris)
FLO4651100 Yellowbill (Senegal), Ceuthmochares aereus flavirostris (Yellow-billed coucal, Zanclostomus flavirostris). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir

Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius curonicus (Black-zoned plover, Charadrias zonatus)
FLO4651027 Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius curonicus (Black-zoned plover, Charadrias zonatus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (Merops savigni). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William
FLO4650938 Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (Merops savigni). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library

African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir
FLO4650898 African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William Jardine's Naturalist's Library: Ornithology

Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster (Buff-bodied flycatcher). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars
FLO4650863 Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster (Buff-bodied flycatcher). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William

Tawny-crowned pygmy tyrant, Euscarthmus meloryphus (Rufus-crowned tody, Lepturus ruficeps)
FLO4650805 Tawny-crowned pygmy tyrant, Euscarthmus meloryphus (Rufus-crowned tody, Lepturus ruficeps). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Willie wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys (Whiskered fantail, Leucocirca laticauda)
FLO4650765 Willie wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys (Whiskered fantail, Leucocirca laticauda). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir William

Streamer-tailed tyrant, Gubernetes yetapa (Scissortail or swallow blackcap, Gubernetes forficatus)
FLO4650725 Streamer-tailed tyrant, Gubernetes yetapa (Scissortail or swallow blackcap, Gubernetes forficatus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson

Purple-throated fruit crow, Querula purpurata (Red throated piha, Querula rubricollis)
FLO4650697 Purple-throated fruit crow, Querula purpurata (Red throated piha, Querula rubricollis). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after an illustration by William Swainson from Sir

Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus (Blue-headed bee-eater, Merops caeruleocephalus)
FLO4650948 Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus (Blue-headed bee-eater, Merops caeruleocephalus). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis (Rufous-vented kingfisher, Halcyon rufiventer)
FLO4650901 Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis (Rufous-vented kingfisher, Halcyon rufiventer). Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

Title page with vignette of two rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, in a jungle setting
FLO4650890 Title page with vignette of two rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, in a jungle setting. Handcoloured steel engraving by William Lizars after William Swainson from Sir William

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William Swainson was a pioneering naturalist and artist who made significant contributions to the field of ornithology. Born in England in 1789, Swainson had a passion for studying birds from a young age. He traveled extensively throughout his life, collecting specimens and documenting new species. Swainson's artistic talents were also highly regarded, as he produced detailed illustrations of the birds he studied. His work helped to visually document many species that were previously unknown or poorly understood. In addition to his scientific pursuits, Swainson was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous books and articles on birds and other aspects of natural history. His writings were influential in shaping the way we understand and appreciate the natural world. Despite facing challenges and setbacks throughout his career, William Swainson remained dedicated to his work until his death in 1855. Today, he is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of ornithology, with many bird species named in his honor.