Melchior d'Hondecoeter painted 'A Pelican and Other Birds Near a Pool', otherwise known as 'The Floating Feather' for the hunting lodge of Stadholder King William III, today's royal palace at Soestdijk. The Stadholder was an admirer of d'Hondecoeter's work. Particularly impressive were the natural poses in his portrayals of birds. The artist took live animals for his models, observing them in poultry yards in the country or at the menageries on landed estates. In this painting, d'Hondecoeter combined exotic birds, like the flamingo, with types which were common in more northern climes, such as the shelduck, on the right.
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