In this imaginary landscape, Hoorn native Herman Henstenburgh combined various bird species, such as the roseate spoonbill from North America and the stork found in Europe and North Africa. In the 17th century the port of Hoorn was an important base for the Dutch East (VOC) and West India (WIC) Trading Companies. The artist will thus have had plenty of opportunities to study the exotic species that Dutch merchants brought back to the harbour from distant lands.