Dive into one of the most fascinating mysteries in the history of ornithology with the engraving of the Cuvier’s Kinglet (Regulus Cuvieri) by John James Audubon. This amazing engraving is depicted on Plate 55 of Birds of America and presents a small but brightly colored bird sitting on the branches of a wild kalmia plant amidst its large leaves and flowers.What makes this print truly mysterious is its status of being a "mystery bird." Although this bird has been thoroughly described by Audubon, it has never been found again and thus has not been confirmed to exist. Modern science believes that it might have been a rare hybrid, a color variant of the Golden-crowned Kinglet or a newly formed species that became extinct soon after its discovery.
