Gouldia laetitiae (Coppery Thorntail).

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 Coppery Thorntail is a strikingly delicate hummingbird, distinguished by its long, tapering tail feathers and brilliant copper-bronze plumage that gleams with metallic iridescence. In Gould’s hand-colored lithograph, the bird is shown poised beside flowering branches, its tail elegantly arched and body rendered in meticulous detail. The use of subtle metallic pigments brings its plumage to life, capturing the play of light that gives the thorntail its radiant sheen. The composition conveys both the bird’s fragility and the grace of its swift movements, hallmarks of Gould’s most refined Trochilidae plates.

John Gould’s Monograph of the Trochilidae remains one of the grandest achievements of Victorian ornithological art. Created over nearly four decades, the work reflects Gould’s mastery as both naturalist and publisher, supported by the talents of Henry Constantine Richter and William Hart. The Coppery Thorntail plate exemplifies their shared pursuit of accuracy and beauty, presenting one of the smallest yet most resplendent of all hummingbirds with exquisite precision and enduring charm.