Lophornis adorabilis (White-crested coquette).

From A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, 6 vols., large folio. Published in London, 1849–1887. Printed by Hullmandel and Walter from drawings by J. Gould, H. C. Richter, and William Hart, lithographed by the artists.

The White-crested Coquette is among the most ornate of Gould’s hummingbirds, instantly recognizable by its striking white crest, iridescent green plumage, and cinnamon underparts. In this hand-colored lithograph, the bird is shown hovering near flowering stems, its plumage enlivened by the metallic pigments that give Gould’s plates their characteristic brilliance. The coquette’s diminutive size and elaborate feathering made it a favorite subject for Gould, whose precise rendering captures both its elegance and restless energy.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae stands as one of the supreme accomplishments of Victorian natural history art. Produced over nearly four decades, it combined Gould’s keen scientific observation with the refined artistry of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. Each plate was hand-finished to preserve the shimmer and delicacy of hummingbird plumage, creating a body of work that remains unmatched for its beauty, accuracy, and scope.