This is an original John James Audubon hand-colored royal first octavo edition lithograph entitled "Red-shafted Woodpecker, 1. Male, 2. Female", No. 55, Plate 274, from Audubon's "Birds of America". It was lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia between 1840-1844. It depicts a colorful adult male Red-shafted Woodpecker perched on a thin branch and a female above him, perched on a thicker branch. Their open beaks are in close proximity to each other. First edition octavo prints are very desirable for Audubon collectors today, because they were created under the direct instruction and supervision of Audubon and were always entirely hand-colored. This original vibrant first octavo edition hand-colored Audubon lithograph is in excellent condition. The sheet measures 10.5" high by 6.5" wide.