The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean · Sam Kean, Bleav
John James Fraudubon
October 28, 2025·18 min·1 clip
A historian discovered Audubon's iconic 'Bird of Washington' was plagiarized from an earlier encyclopedia illustration.
As heard by us
A steady account of Audubon's rise, and of how the Bird of Washington story came apart under closer looking.
This episode follows the Bird of Washington story as Audubon moves from disputed figure to accepted name inside the Academy's circle. The September 1831 vote and the subscription to Birds of America give the piece its arc, and there is a quiet sting in how quickly reputation can…
Why you'd press play
A national symbol built on one very convenient lie.
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