I have been induced to present this Volume to the Public by two considerations. The figures and descriptions contained in the works entitled “The Birds of America,” and “Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States,” having been issued in the miscellaneous manner which was thought best adapted to the occasion, or which was rendered necessary by circumstances, seemed to require a systematic index, in which the nomenclature should be corrected, and the species arranged agreeably to my present views. This Synopsis, then, will afford a methodical catalogue of all the species hitherto discovered in the vast regions, extending from the northern confines of Mexico to the Polar Seas, and which have been described, and, with few exceptions, depicted in the works above named. Another important object has been to present an arrangement of these birds, so characterized, that a person desirous of studying them, might, without much difficulty, be enabled to discover their names, and trace some of the most important features in their organization.
The species are disposed into genera and families; and, although the location of the groups is not such as, in all respects, to satisfy me, the arrangement will, I trust, be found in some degree useful. It will be seen that, although I have adopted many of the modern groups, I have not sectioned our birds on so minutely divided a scale as that employed by some recent writers. Besides the characters of the Families, Genera, and Species, which are given with considerable detail, I have presented a short account of the Geographical Distribution of the species, and references to the principal authors by whom they have been described. I am confident that these notices will suffice to enable the student to determine with certainty any species that may come under his consideration, and that the information respecting its habits, which he will find in the works referred to, will afford him at least sufficient knowledge to form a basis for the more extended observation which he may contemplate. To the name of the genus I have appended that of the author by whom it has been instituted; and with the specific names I have dealt in the same manner, giving as authorities the individuals who first employed them, although they may have referred them to different genera. It is probable that many errors have been made in this department; but I shall be happy to see them corrected, as my wish is to do justice to all.
On this occasion I have again to acknowledge the benefit derived from the aid of my friend Mr Macgillivray, whose general knowledge of ornithology, and perfect candour, have rendered his advice peculiarly valuable.
J. J. AUDUBON.
Edinburgh, 1st July 1839.
Bill of moderate length, stout, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible rounded and thin-edged at the end. Head rather small, or of moderate size, ovato-oblong, and with part of the neck destitute of feathers. Eyes of moderate size, without projecting ridges. External aperture of ears rather small and simple. Skin over the fore part of the neck bare or merely downy. Tarsus rather stout, bare, and shorter than the middle toe; hind toe much smaller than the second; anterior toes connected at the base by a web; claws large, moderately curved, rather acute. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings very long, subacuminate. Œsophagus excessively wide, and dilated into a crop; stomach rather large, somewhat muscular, with a soft rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca extremely small. The young when fledged have the head and upper part of the neck generally covered with down. Eggs commonly two.
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate to the end of the large cere, then decurved, the edges a little festooned, rather thick, the tip descending and rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle long and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the edges sharp, towards the end decurved. Nostrils oblong, large, pervious. Head oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its edges serrate with reversed papillæ. Œsophagus dilated into an enormous crop; stomach moderately muscular; duodenum convoluted. Head and upper part of neck denuded, being only sparingly covered with very short down. Wings very long and extremely broad; third, fourth, and fifth primaries longest, first much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. Tarsus short, rather stout, roundish, reticulate. Hind toe very small, second a little shorter than fourth, third very long, all scutellate for more than half their length. Claws strong, arched, compressed, obtuse.
Plate CCCCXXVI. Adult.
Nostrils small, elliptical, occupying only the posterior half of the nasal groove; feathers of the ruff and breast lanceolate and acuminate; primaries finely acuminate, fourth and fifth longest; tail rather short, even. Adult with the head bare and yellowish-red, the plumage brownish-black, the secondaries grey, tipped with white, their coverts large, tipped with the same. Young with the head downy and dusky, the plumage blackish-brown, the feathers edged with light brown, the secondary coverts tipped with brownish-white.
Male, length 50. Female, length 55.
California and Columbia Rivers. Resident in the south.
Cathartes Californianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 22.
Californian Vulture, Nuttall, Man. vi. p. 39.
Californian Vulture, Cathartes Californianus, Aud. v. v. p. 240.
Plate CLI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Young fledged.
Nostrils very large, elliptical, occupying the whole nasal cavity; feathers of the ruff and breast ovate, rounded; skin over the crop bare; tail rounded. Adult with the skin of the head and neck wrinkled and blood-red, the horny part of the bill yellowish-white; the plumage blackish-brown, deepest on the neck and under parts; feet flesh-coloured, tinged with yellow. Young when fledged with the skin of the head and neck dull flesh-coloured and more downy, the horny tip of the bill light blue, the plumage nearly as in the adult, but the wing-coverts and secondaries spotted with whitish.
Male.– Length 32, extent of wings 76.
From Texas to Pennsylvania. Inland westward to the Columbia River. Resident.
Turkey-Vulture or Turkey-Buzzard, Vultur Aura, Wils. v. ix. p. 96.
Cathartes Aura, Bonap. Syn. p. 22.
Cathartes Aura, Turkey-Vulture, Rich. & Swains. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 4.
Turkey-Vulture or Turkey-Buzzard, Nuttal, Man. v. ii. p. 43.
Turkey-Buzzard, Cathartes Aura, Aud. v. ii. p. 296; v. v. p. 339.
Plate CVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Nostrils very large, oblong, occupying the whole nasal cavity; feathers of the neck short, very broad, abruptly rounded, advancing farther on the hind part; skin over the crop feathered; tail even. Adult with the skin of the head and neck corrugated, dusky, the horny part of the bill greyish-yellow, the plumage bluish-black, feet yellowish-grey. Young when fledged with the head and neck closely covered with dusky down; the plumage blackish-brown.
Male, length 26, extent of wings 54.
From Texas to New Jersey. Up the Mississippi to the Ohio. Columbia River. Resident.
Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Vultur atratus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 104.
Cathartes Iota, Bonap. Syn. p. 23.
Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Cathartes Iota, Nuttal, Man. v. i. p. 46.
Black Vulture or Carrion Crow, Aud. v. ii. p. 33; v. v. p. 345.
Cathartes atratus, Black Vulture, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 6.
Bill short, stout, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible rounded and thin-edged at the end. Head rather large, broadly ovate, feathered. Eyes large, with prominent superciliary ridges. External aperture of ears of moderate size, and simple. Tarsus longer than the middle toe; claws very large, much curved, extremely acute. Plumage full and generally compact. Wings very long and broad. Œsophagus excessively wide and dilated into a crop; stomach large, somewhat membranous, its muscular fasciculi being placed in a single series; intestine short and rather wide, or very long and slender; cœca extremely small. The young, when fledged, generally having the lower parts longitudinally streaked. Eggs from two to six, ovate, or roundish. Nest on trees, rocks, or the ground.
Bill large, high, rather long, much compressed; cere large, covered with hair-like feathers; upper outline convex and declinate to the edge of the cere, then decurved; edge of upper mandible slightly arched and nearly even, tip of lower compressed and rounded. Nostrils elliptical, oblique, in the anterior part of the cere near the ridge. Eyelids and space anterior to the eye denuded, as is the skin over the crop. Feet rather long; tarsi anteriorly scutellate, sharp-edged and scaly behind; toes rather long, broadly scutellate, the first much shorter than the second; claws long, little curved, that of the middle toe being only slightly arched. Wings long, rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the first five having the inner web cut out. Tail rather long, rounded.
Plate CLXI. Young.
Adult with the upper part of the head and nape brownish-black, the throat and ear-coverts yellowish-white; the upper parts finely barred with brown and dull white, the rump and tail lighter, the latter with a large terminal brown band; the lower parts similarly barred with reddish-white and brown. Young with the upper part of the head brown, streaked with dusky, the hind neck and part of the breast pale yellowish-red longitudinally variegated with brown; the middle of the back, scapulars, wing-coverts and secondaries dark brown, as are the hind part of the breast and the tibiæ; the tail nearly as in the adult.
Male, 231/2, 48.
Texas and Florida. Resident.
Caracara Eagle Polyborus vulgaris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 350; v. v. p. 351.
Bill short, with the upper outline nearly straight and declinate to the edge of the cere, then decurved, the sides rapidly sloping, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip trigonal, acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges arched, at the end deflected, the tip rounded. Head large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils, obovate, nearer the ridge than the margin. Neck rather short. Body full. Feet short, robust; tarsi roundish, anteriorly feathered half-way down, and scutellate, posteriorly also scutellate; toes of moderate length, scaly for half their length; claws long, arched, compressed, acuminate. Plumage full and rather blended. Space between the bill and eye covered with bristly feathers. Wings long, broad, the fourth quill longest, the first and seventh or eighth about equal; the first four abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, broad, slightly rounded. Cere and feet yellow; bill light blue at the base, black at the tip, in all the American species.
Plate CCCXCII. Female.
Bill higher and feet more robust than in the other species. Wings much rounded, the first quill four inches shorter than the fourth, which is longest, the seventh longer than the second. Chocolate-brown; wing-coverts and tibial feathers brownish-red; upper tail-coverts, base and end of tail white.
Female, 24, wing 151/4.
Mississippi. Extremely rare. Migratory.
Louisiana Hawk, Falco Harrisii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 30.
Plate CCCLXXII. Female.
Upper parts chocolate-brown; primaries black toward the end, part of their inner webs white, barred with brownish-black; tail with about ten dusky bars on a reddish-brown ground, the last dark bar broader; eyelids whitish; throat white, longitudinally streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts yellowish or brownish-white, barred with brown. This species is subject to much variation in colour.
Female, 23 inches, wing 17.
Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and Fur Countries.
Buteo vulgaris, Common Buzzard, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 47.
Common Buzzard, Falco buteo, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 108.
Plate LI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, the back and scapulars dark brown, the latter broadly margined with brownish-white; smaller wing-coverts chocolate-brown; larger, lighter, tipped with white; primary quills blackish-brown, secondaries lighter, tipped with brownish-white, all barred with blackish; upper tail-coverts whitish, barred with brown; tail bright yellowish-red, with a narrow bar of black near the end, and tipped with whitish. Lower parts yellowish-white, the fore part of the breast with linear, guttiform, or sagittate spots; feathers of the leg and tarsus pale reddish-yellow. Female similar to the male, but with the upper parts darker, the lower nearly white, there being only a few narrow streaks on the sides of the breast. Young with the upper parts brown, streaked with yellowish-red, the tail-coverts yellowish-white barred with brown, the tail light greyish-brown, barred with dark brown and tipped with white; lower parts yellowish-white, with oblong longitudinal brown spots; the feathers of the sides and tibiæ barred with the same.
Male, 201/2, 46. Female, 24.
From Texas northward to the Fur Countries, and westward to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Resident.
Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, Wils. Am. Orn. v. vi. p. 76. Adult.
American Buzzard or White-breasted Hawk, Falco leverianus, Wils. Am. Orn. v. vi. p. 78.
Buteo borealis, Red-tailed Buzzard, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 50.
Red-tailed Hawk or Buzzard, Falco borealis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 102.
Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. 1. p. 265; v. v. p. 378.
Plate LXXXVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Size of Common Buzzard, which it resembles in form and proportion. General colour of plumage deep chocolate-brown, glossed with greyish-blue; inner webs of quills white, those of the primaries barred with dusky toward the end; tail lighter than the back, rather narrowly barred with brownish-black, and tipped with brownish-red; lower parts paler, anteriorly streaked, posteriorly barred with brownish-black; lower wing-coverts whitish, spotted with deep brown.
Male, 21, 45. Female, 22.
Louisiana. Extremely rare.
Black Warrior, Falco Harlani, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 441. v. v. p. 380.
Black Buzzard, Falco Harlani, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 105.
Plate LVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Adult.
Plate LXXI. Young male.
Adult with the head, neck, and back light yellowish-red, longitudinally spotted with dark brown; smaller wing-coverts deep yellowish-red, with the centre brown; larger coverts and secondary quills dusky, broadly barred with white; primary quills brownish-black, barred with white; tail brownish-black, narrowly banded and tipped with white. Lower parts of the neck and lower wing-coverts light yellowish-red, the former longitudinally lined with dusky and faintly barred with whitish, the rest of the lower parts barred with light red and reddish-white. Young with the upper parts deep brown, the tail-coverts, tail, and quills barred with brownish-white; the lower parts white, longitudinally streaked and spotted with brown.
Male, 211/2, 44.
From Texas to Nova Scotia, and westward to the Missouri. Very abundant. Resident.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco lineatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 86. Young.
Winter Falcon, Falco hyemalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 73. Adult.
Falco hyemalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 33.
Winter Falcon or Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco hyemalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 106.
Red-shouldered Hawk, Falco lineatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 296; v. v. p. 380.
Winter Hawk, Falco hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 364. Young.
Plate XCI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
General colour of upper parts umber-brown; quills blackish-brown, the greater part of their inner webs whitish, with narrow dusky bands; tail with three very broad bands of dark brown; alternating with two broad white bands, and the tips brownish-white; cheeks reddish-brown, with a dark mystachial band; lower parts yellowish-white, barred with light brown, that colour predominating anteriorly. Female similar, lighter above, more tinged with red beneath, where the spots are larger and more irregular. Young with the upper parts brown, streaked and spotted with white; the tail light greyish-brown, with seven dusky bars; lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally marked with linear-oblong brown spots.
Male, 16, 38. Female, 19.
From Maryland to Nova Scotia. Rare in the interior.
Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 92.
Falco Pennsylvanicus, Bonap. Syn. p. 29.
Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 105.
Broad-winged Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 461, v. v. p. 377.
Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 1. Old Male. Fig. 2. Young, first winter.
Plate CLXVI. Male. Middle age.
Tarsi feathered in their whole length. Adult male with the general colour of the plumage blackish-brown; the forehead and a large patch on the hind neck white, streaked with blackish-brown; all the feathers of the back, the scapulars, the wing-coverts, the quills, and the tail-feathers, white toward the base, and more or less barred with whitish-grey, or brown; axillar feathers, some of those on the sides, and some of the tibial feathers, with the lower tail-coverts similarly marked; the white forming a conspicuous patch on the under surface of the wing, occupying the greater part of the primaries as well as part of the inner webs of the secondaries; tail brownish-black, barred with greyish-white, there being six black bands on the middle feathers, the last very broad. Female of a uniform dark chocolate-brown, the tail banded, and the same parts white as in the male. Young with the head and neck streaked with umber-brown, and yellowish-white; back umber-brown, variegated with light reddish-brown and yellowish-white; quills dark brown towards the end, the outer webs of the first tinged with grey, the base of all white, that colour extending farther on the secondaries, of most of which, and of some of the primaries, the inner web is irregularly barred with brown; tail white at the base, brown toward the end, with a broad subterminal bar of brownish-black, the tips brownish-white; middle and hind part of the breast, with the sides, brownish-black, the rest of the lower parts pale yellowish-red, streaked or barred with dusky.
Male, 211/2, 511/2. Female, 23.
From Maryland northward. Columbia River. Not met with in the interior. Migratory. Not very abundant.
Black Hawk, Falco niger, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 82. Adult.
Falco lagopus, Bonap. Syn. p. 32. Young.
Falco Sanci-Johannis, Bonap. Syn. p. 32. Adult.
Buteo lagopus, Rough-legged Buzzard, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 52.
Rough-legged Falcon, Falco lagopus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 59, Young; v. v. p. 216, Adult and Young.
Bill rather short, deep, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal outline nearly straight and sloping at the base, beyond the cere decurved, the sides sloping and slightly convex, the edges nearly straight, with a slight convexity and a shallow sinus close to the strong subtrigonal tip; lower mandible with the dorsal outline convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Head large, roundish, flattened above. Nostrils oval, oblique, nearer the ridge than the margin. Neck rather short. Body very large. Feet rather short, very robust; tarsi roundish, feathered to the toes; which are rather short, united at the base by short webs, covered above with a series of angular scales, and towards the end with a few large scutella; claws long, curved, rounded, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage compact, imbricated, glossy; feathers of the head and neck narrow and pointed; space between the bill and eye covered with small bristle-pointed feathers disposed in a radiating manner. Wings long, the fourth quill longest; the first short; the outer six abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, ample, rounded.
Plate CLXXXI. Female.
General colour of the plumage dark brown glossed with purple; occiput, hind part and sides of the neck, light brownish-yellow; wing-coverts light brown; primary quills brownish-black, secondary with the coverts brown, those next the body more or less mottled with brownish-white, excepting at the ends; tail dark brown, lighter towards the base, with a few irregular whitish markings; feathers of the legs and tarsi, and lower tail-coverts, light yellowish-brown. Young with the basal three-fourths of the tail white.
Male, 32, 70. Female, 38, 84.
From Pennsylvania northward. Never seen far in the interior. Resident.
Falco fulvus, Bonap. Syn. p. 25.
Aquila Chrysaetos, Golden Eagle, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 12.
Ring-tailed Eagle, Falco fulvus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vii. p. 13.
Royal or Golden Eagle, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 62.
Golden Eagle, Falco Chrysaetos, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. ii. p. 464.
Bill rather short, very deep, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal outline nearly straight at the base, beyond the cere decurved, the sides sloping, the edges nearly straight, with a slight obtuse process, and a shallow sinus close to the strong trigonal tip; lower mandible, with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Head large, oblong, flattened above. Nostrils oblong, oblique, near the ridge. Neck of moderate length. Body very large. Feet rather short, very robust; tarsi roundish, covered anteriorly with the transverse scutella, posteriorly with large, laterally with small scales; toes robust, free, scutellate above; claws large, curved, rounded, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow and pointed; space between the bill and eye barish, being sparsely covered with bristle-like feathers, disposed in a radiating manner. Wings long, the second and third quills longest, the outer five cut out abruptly on the inner web. Tail rather long, rounded. Duodenum convoluted.
Plate XI. Male.
Tarsus and toes uniformly scutellate in their whole length. Bill bluish-black, cere yellowish-brown, feet orange-yellow, claws bluish-black. Upper part of the head, hind neck, back, scapulars, rump, tail-coverts, and posterior tibial feathers blackish-brown, glossed with a coppery tint; throat, fore-neck, breast, and belly light brownish-yellow, each feather with a central blackish-brown streak; wing-coverts light greyish-brown, those next the body becoming darker; primary quills dark brown, deeper on their inner webs; secondaries lighter, and on their outer webs of nearly the same light tint as their coverts; tail uniform dark brown.
Male, 43, 122.
From Louisiana northward. Exceedingly rare. The specimen figured procured in Kentucky. One seen in Labrador.
Bird of Washington, Falco Washingtonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 58.
Plate XXXI. Adult Male. Plate CXXVI. Young.
Male. Tarsus with a few scutella; toes terminally scutellate. Male with the bill, cere, iris, and feet yellow; the head, the neck for half its length, the rump, upper and lower tail-coverts, and tail white; the rest of the plumage chocolate-brown, the terminal margins of all the feathers pale greyish-brown. Female similar. Young with the bill brownish-black, iris dark brown, feet yellow; the general colour of the plumage very dark chocolate, uniform, the feathers without edgings, all white at the base, that colour appearing more or less on the hind part, and more especially on the fore part and sides of the neck, and on the sides of the body and lower wing-coverts; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, tinged with grey toward the base; the latter with the greater part of the inner webs, and a portion of the outer brownish-white, freckled with dusky. In more advanced stages the colours of the plumage vary considerably in different individuals. The general tint continues brown for several years, a variable and often a large proportion of white, or brownish-white, appearing on the neck, the lower part of the body, the sides, and under the wings, the tail meanwhile gradually becoming white in freckled patches, some have a large patch of brownish-white across the breast. When the feathers are new, they are of a glossy deep brown, but when old and worn they present a bleached appearance, and the upper parts are often patched with pale brown or brownish-white. On account of these circumstances, individuals of different ages, and shot at different periods of the year, differ so much from each other in appearance, that one might, without a very extended comparison, conceive that in a collection of specimens, there might be several species. The bill remains dark until the head and tail become white; the anterior tarsal scutella differ from none to six, the posterior from nine to twelve; those on the hind toe are four, on the middle toe from nine to thirteen.
Male, 34, 84.
Throughout North America. Resident in the south and west.
Bald Eagle, Falco Haliaetus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iv. p. 89. Adult.
Sea Eagle, Falco ossifragus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vii. p. 16. Young.
Falco leucocephalus, Bonap. Synops. p. 26.
Aquila leucocephala, White-headed Eagle, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor Amer. v. ii. p. 15.
White-headed or Bald Eagle, Falco leucocephalus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 72.
White-headed Eagle, Falco leucocephalus, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. i. p. 160, v. ii. p. 160, v. v. p. 354.
Bill short, as broad as deep at the base, the sides convex, the dorsal outline straight at the base, decurved towards the end; upper mandible with a festoon on the edges at the curvature, the tip trigonal, very acute; lower mandible with the edges slightly arched, the tip obtusely truncate. Nostrils oval, oblique, large, half-way between the ridge and the cere. Legs rather long; tarsus very short, remarkably thick, covered all round with hexagonal scales; toes also remarkably thick, the outer versatile larger than the inner, all scutellate only towards the end, and covered beneath with prominent, conical, acuminate scales; claws long, curved, convex beneath, tapering to a fine point. Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow, acuminate; of the tarsus short and very narrow, without the elongated external tufts seen in all the other genera. Tail rather long, a little rounded. Intestine extremely long and slender, its greatest width 21/4 twelfths, the smallest 1/2 twelfth.
Plate LXXXI. Adult male.
Bill bluish-black, cere light blue, feet pale greyish-blue tinged anteriorly with yellow. General colour of upper parts deep umber-brown, the tail barred with whitish on the inner webs; the upper part of the head and neck white, the middle part of the crown dark brown; a broad band of the latter colour from the bill down the side of the neck; lower parts white, the neck streaked with light brown; anterior tibial feather tinged with brown. Young with the feathers of the upper parts broadly tipped with brownish-white, the lower pure white.
Male, 23, 54. Female, 251/2, 58.
From Texas northward, and throughout the interior, as well as along the north-west coast. Resident in the south.
Fish Hawk, Falco Haliaetus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 13.
Falco Haliaetus, Bonap. Syn. p. 26.
Fish Hawk or Osprey, Falco Haliaetus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 415, v. v. p. 362.
Bill short, small, very wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate to the end of the cere, then decurved, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow and acute, the edges with a distinct festoon, lower mandible with the angle very wide and long, the dorsal line very short, and slightly convex, the tip obliquely truncate, and narrow. Nostrils elliptical, rather large, about half-way between the cere and ridge. Head rather large, broad, flattened above; neck short; body compact. Legs rather short; tarsus very short, stout, roundish, feathered anteriorly for half its length, the rest covered with small roundish scales; toes short, thick, scaly, with a few terminal scutella; claws long, curved, conical, rounded beneath, acute. Plumage very soft, and rather blended. Wings very long and pointed, the second quill longest. Tail of moderate breadth, long, emarginate, and rounded.
Plate CCCLII. Male and Female.
Ash-grey above; head, tail, and lower parts white, with a large bluish-black patch on the wing above, and a smaller beneath; feet orange-yellow. Young with the upper parts brownish-grey, the larger feathers tipped with white, the patches on the wings brownish-black.
Male, 14, 40. Female, 163/4, 411/2.
From Texas to North Carolina. Rare. Never far inland. Migrates southward.
Black-winged Hawk, Falco melanopterus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii.
Falco melanopterus, Bonap. Syn. p. 31. Falco dispar, App. p. 435.
Black-shouldered Hawk, Falco dispar, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 397.
Bill very short, wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved in its whole length, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow and acute, the edges with an obtuse lobe; lower mandible with the angle very wide, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the tip rather broad and obliquely truncate. Nostrils round, lateral, with a central papilla. Head rather large, roundish, broad, flattened; neck short, body compact. Legs rather short; tarsus stout, covered anteriorly with scutella; toes scutellate above, scabrous beneath, with pointed papillæ; claws rather long, curved, acuminate, flattened beneath. Plumage rather compact. Wings very long, the third quill longest. Tail long, emarginate.
This genus is easily distinguished from Elanus; the tarsi and toes being scutellate in this, and scaly in that; and the festoon on the upper mandible is much more prominent in Ictinia, while the nostrils, instead of being elliptical, are round, as in the Falcons.
Plate CXVII. Male and Female.
Head, secondary quills, and lower parts light ash-grey; back and wing coverts dark leaden-grey; primaries black, margined externally with deep red; tail bluish-black; scutella dark purplish-red.
Male, 14, 36. Female, 15.
From Texas, where it is abundant, to North Carolina; up the Mississippi to Natchez. Migratory.
Mississippi Kite, Falco Mississippiensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 80.
Falco plumbeus, Bonap. Syn. p. 90.
Mississippi Kite, Falco plumbeus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 108, v. v. p. 374.
Bill short, wide at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved from the base, the sides slightly convex, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip narrow and acute; lower mandible with the angle very wide, the dorsal line straightish, the tip rounded and declinate. Nostrils round, with a central papilla. Head rather large, roundish, flattened; neck short; body compact. Feet short; tarsus very short, thick, scaly all round; toes scutellate above, scabrous beneath, with pointed papillæ; claws rather long, curved, acuminate. Plumage blended, glossy. Wings extremely long, pointed, the third quill longest; secondaries short. Tail extremely long, very deeply forked.
Plate LXXII. Male.
Head, neck all round, and lower parts white; back, wings, and tail black, glossed with blue and purple; feet light blue, tinged with green; claws flesh-coloured.
Male, 22, 47. Female, 25, 511/2.
From Texas to North Carolina. Rather abundant. Up the Mississippi and Ohio to Louisville. Accidental in Pennsylvania. Migratory.
Swallow-tailed Hawk, Falco furcatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 70.
Falco furcatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 31.
Swallow-tailed Hawk, Falco furcatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 368. v. v. p. 371.
Bill short, robust; its upper outline decurved from the base; cere short, bare; edge of upper mandible with a festoon and a prominent angular process. Nostrils round, with an internal ridge, ending in a central tubercle. Feet strong; tarsi moderate, reticulate; toes long, broadly scutellate, the anterior webbed at the base; claws long, well curved, very acute. Wings long, pointed; second quill longest, first and third nearly equal; outer toe abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail rather long, nearly even.
Plate CCCLXVI. Adult Female. Plate CXCVI. Young Male and Female.
Tooth-like process of the bill generally obsolete in old, festoon slight in young birds; tail from three to four inches longer than the wings. Adult white, with slate-grey sagittate spots above, the bill pale blue, the cere and feet yellow. Younger birds light grey, the feathers white on the edges; the bill and cere light blue, the feet greyish-blue. Young brownish-grey above, the feathers margined and spotted with reddish-white, the lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally streaked with dusky.
Male, 221/2, 49. Female, 231/2, 511/4.
Breeds in the extreme north, and in Labrador. In winter, migrates southward as far as Maine.
Falco Islandicus, Jer Falcon, Rich. & Swains. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 27.
Gyr Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 51.
Iceland or Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 466. Adult Female.
Iceland or Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 552. Young Male and Female.
Plate XVI. Adult Male and Female.
Wings, when closed, of nearly the same length as the tail. Adult male with the upper parts greyish-black, excepting the head and hind neck barred with light greyish-blue, lower parts white, the breast and sides transversely spotted with black. Female with the upper parts darker than those of the male, the lower yellowish or reddish-white, with larger dusky spots on the breast and sides, and oblong streaks on the neck. Young blackish-brown above, the breast of the male yellowish-white, of the female pale yellowish-red, with broad longitudinal dusky streaks. In all stages, a large mystachial patch, black in adult, brown in young birds.
Male, 161/2, 30. Female, 191/2, 36.
Breeds in the northern parts, visiting the southern and western in winter as far as Texas.
Great-footed Hawk, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 120.
Falco peregrinus, Bonap. Synops. p. 27.
Common or Wandering Falcon, Falco peregrinus, Nuttall, Man. v. i. p. 53.
Great-footed Hawk, Falco peregrinus, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 85; v. v. p. 365.
Falco peregrinus, Peregrine Falcon, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 23.
Plate LXXV. Young Male and Female. Plate XCII. Adult Male.
Wings from two to three inches shorter than the tail, on the middle feathers of which are five, on the lateral six broad whitish bands. Adult male with the cere greenish-yellow, the feet pale orange, the upper parts light bluish-grey, each feather with a black central line; lower parts reddish or yellowish white, the breast and sides with large oblong brown spots; tibial feathers light red, streaked with blackish-brown. Female with the cere and legs greenish-yellow, the upper parts dark greyish-brown, the lower pale red, spotted as in the male. Young with the head light reddish-brown, streaked with dusky, the upper parts brownish-grey, the feathers margined and spotted with pale red, throat white, lower parts pale red, streaked with brown. The tail-bands vary from pale red to white.
This species is so nearly allied to Falco Æsalon, that it is extremely difficult to distinguish many individuals. The number and form of the scutella differ; but the most certain distinctive character is found in the light-coloured bands of the tail, which are more numerous in the Merlin, there being seven on its middle, and nine on its lateral tail-feathers.
Male, 103/4, 27. Female, 14, 30.
From Texas northward. Breeds in the Labrador and Arctic regions. Abundant. Migratory.
Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 107.
Falco columbarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.
Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 60.
Little Corporal Hawk, Falco temerarius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 61. Adult Male.
Falco columbarius, Pigeon Hawk, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 35.
Falco Æsalon, Merlin, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 37.
Pigeon Hawk, Falco columbarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 466; Young, v. i. p. 381, Male; v. v. p. 368.
Plate CXLII. Male and Female.
Male with the upper part of the head and wing-coverts light greyish-blue, seven black spots round the head, and a light red patch on the crown; back light red, spotted with black; tail red, with a broad subterminal black band. Female with the head nearly as in the male, the back, wing-coverts, and tail, banded with light red and dusky. Young similar to the female, but with more red on the head, which is streaked with dusky.
Male, 12. Female, 12.
Generally distributed. Resident in the south. Abundant.
American Sparrow-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 117.
Falco sparverius, Bonap. Syn. p. 27.
American sparrow-hawk, Falco sparverius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 58.
Falco sparverius, Little Rusty-crowned Falcon, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 31.
American Sparrow-Hawk, Falco sparverius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 246; v. v. p. 370.
Bill short, robust; its upper outline sloping, and nearly straight at the base, then decurved; cere short, bare above; edge of upper mandible with a festoon, succeeded by a broad sinus. Nostrils elliptical. Feet of moderate length; tarsi moderate or slender, feathered at least one-third of their length, broadly scutellate before and behind; first and second toes strongest and equal, third much longer, and connected at the base by a web with the third, which is shortest; claws long, well curved, acuminate. Wings very broad, of moderate length, much rounded, fourth and fifth quills longest, first much shorter, outer four abruptly cut out on the inner web. Tail long, much exceeding the wings, rounded.
Those of more slender form, with proportionally longer tails and tarsi, are separated by many authors to form a group, to which the name of Accipiter and Nisus are given.
Plate CXLI. Fig. 1. Adult Male. Fig. 2. Young.
Adult male dark bluish-grey above, the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, the upper part of the head greyish-black; a white band, with black lines, over the eyes; lower parts white, narrowly barred with grey, and longitudinally streaked with dark brown. Young brown above, the feathers edged with reddish-white, the head and hind neck pale red, streaked with blackish-brown, the lower parts yellowish-white, with oblong longitudinal dark brown spots.
Male, 24, 47.
From Maryland, northward. From Kentucky, northward. Migratory.
Ash-coloured or Black-capped Hawk, Falco atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 80.
Falco palumbarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 28.
American Goshawk, Falco atricapillus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 85.
Accipiter (Astur) Palumbarius, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 39.
Goshawk, Falco palumbarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 241.
Plate CXLI. Fig. 3. Adult Male. Plate XXXVI. Young Male and Female.
Tail rounded, tarsi moderately stout. Adult male dull bluish-grey above; the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, and tipped with white; the upper part of the head greyish-black; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white, the throat white, longitudinally streaked. Female similar, with the bands on the breast broader. Young umber-brown above, more or less spotted with white, the tail with four blackish-brown bars; lower parts white, each feather with a longitudinal narrow, oblong, brown spot.
Male, 20, 36. Female, 22, 38.
From Louisiana northward, and all over the interior, in winter. Some breed in the United States. Columbia River.
Cooper's Hawk, Falco Cooperii. Bonap. Amer. Orn. Young.
Falco Cooperii, Bon. Syn. App. p. 433. Young.
Stanley Hawk, Falco Stanleii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 245. Adult Male.
Stanley Hawk, Falco Stanleii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 186. Young.
Plate CCCLXXIV. Adult Male and Female.
Tail even, tarsi extremely slender. Adult male bluish-grey above; the tail with four broad bands of blackish-brown, and tipped with white; upper part of head darker; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white, the throat white, longitudinally streaked. Female similar, more tinged with yellow beneath, and with the bands on the breast broader. Young umber-brown above, more or less spotted with white, the tail with four dark brown bars; lower parts white, each feather with a longitudinal narrow, oblong, brown spot. Miniature of Falco Cooperii, and intimately allied to Astur Nisus.
Male, 111/4, 201/2. Female, 14, 26.
Generally distributed. Not very abundant. Migratory.
Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco Pennsylvanicus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 13. Adult Male.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Falco velox, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. vi. p. 116. Young Female.
Falco velox, Bonap. Syn. p. 29.
Falco fuscus, Bonap. Syn. Append. p. 433.
Accipiter Pennsylvanicus, Slate-coloured Hawk, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 44.
American Brown or Slate-coloured Hawk, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 87.
Sharp-shinned or Slate-coloured Hawk, Falco fuscus, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 522. Adult.
Bill short, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping to beyond the cere, then decurved, the sides sloping, the edge with a festoon a little anterior to the nostril, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and convex, the tip rounded. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, with an oblique ridge from their upper edge. Head of moderate size, oblong, neck rather short; body slender. Legs long and slender; tarsi long, compressed, anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate; toes slender, scutellate unless at the base; claws long, compressed, moderately curved, flat beneath, acuminate. Plumage very soft; a distinct ruff of narrow feathers from behind the eye on each side to the chin, the aperture of the ear being very large. Wings long, much rounded, the fourth quill longest; outer four quills with their inner webs sinuate. Tail straight, long, slightly rounded. Quills and tail-feathers covered with velvety down.
Plate CCCLVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Fig. 3. Young.
Adult male light ash-grey; abdomen, tail-coverts, lower wing-coverts, inner webs of secondary quills and tail-feathers, white, primaries black toward the end. Female umber-brown above, head, hind neck and scapulars, streaked with light red; tail-coverts white; tail banded with light red; lower parts light yellowish-red, the neck streaked with brown. Young like the female, but lighter.
Male, 193/4, 44. Female, 201/2, 463/4.
Breeds from Texas northward. Columbia River.
Marsh Hawk, Falco uliginosus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 67. Young Female.
Falco cyaneus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 30.
Hen-Harrier or Marsh Hawk, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 109.
Marsh Hawk, Falco cyaneus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 396.
Buteo (Circus) cyaneus? var? Americanus, American Hen-Harrier, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 55.
Bill very short, strong, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible with the end rounded and thin-edged. Head extremely large, owing to the wide separation of the tables of the cranium, roundish, more or less vertically flattened behind, feathered. Eyes excessively large, with prominent superciliary ridges, and encircled by series of decomposed feathers. External aperture of ear always very large, frequently excessive, simple or operculate. Tarsus short, very short, or of moderate length, always feathered, as are the toes, of which the outer is versatile, the first shorter than the second, the anterior free; claws very long, slender, curved, extremely acute. Plumage very full and soft. Wings long, broad, rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills longest, the filaments of the outer more or less enlarged and recurved at the end. Tail broad, rather short or of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Œsophagus very wide, without crop or dilatation; stomach very large, round, somewhat membranous, its muscular fasciculi being placed in a single series; intestine short and wide; cœca large, oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the base. Young at first covered with light-coloured down, when fledged, with the face darker than that of adults. Eggs white, somewhat globular or broadly ovate, from four to six. Nests rudely constructed, in hollow trees, on branches, in buildings, or on the ground.
Bill very short, strong, its upper outline decurved from the base; lower mandible abruptly rounded, with a sinus on each side. Nostrils elliptical, rather large. Aperture of ear elliptical, simple, not more than half the height of the head. Feet strong; tarsi very short or of moderate length. Plumage rather dense; facial disks incomplete above. Wings very large, the third quill longest, the first with the filaments thickened and a little free, but scarcely recurved at the end. Tail varying in length.
Plate CCCLXXVIII. Male and Female.
Tail long, much rounded, the lateral feathers two inches shorter than the middle. Upper part of head brownish-black, closely spotted with white, hind neck black, with two broad longitudinal bands of white spots; rest of upper parts dark brown, spotted with white; tail with eight transverse bars of white, the feathers tipped with the same; facial disks greyish-white, margined with black; lower parts transversely barred with brown and dull white.
Male, 153/4, 311/2. Female, 171/2.
From New Jersey on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward; but not in the central plains. Migratory.
Hawk Owl, Strix hudsonica, Wils. v. vi. p. 64.
Strix funerea, Bonap. Syn. p. 35.
Hawk Owl, Strix funerea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 115.
Plate CXXI. Male and Female.
Tail rather long, moderately rounded; plumage white; head and back spotted; wings, tail, and lower parts barred with dusky brown. Young pure white. Individuals vary much in markings.
Male, 21, 53. Female, 26, 65.
From South Carolina on the east, and Columbia River on the west, northward. Migratory.
Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 116.
Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 135: v. v. p. 382.
Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 3. Female.
Tail rather short, arched, nearly even; wings almost as long as the tail, the outer four quills cut out on the inner web, the outer five sinuated on the outer; filaments of the first free and slightly recurved, as are those of the second and third beyond the sinus. General colour of upper parts chocolate-brown, the feather of the head with an oblong median white mark; hind neck with very large white spots, forming a conspicuous patch; on the back most of the feathers with a single large subterminal roundish spot, as is the case with the scapulars and wing-coverts, most of which, however, have two or more spots; quills with marginal reddish-white spots on both webs, the third with six on the outer and four on the inner, with two very faint pale bars toward the end; the tail similarly marked with four bands of transversely oblong, reddish-white spots; feathers of the anterior part of the disk whitish, with black shafts, of the lower part whitish, of the hind part brown tipped with greyish-white; a broad band of white crossing the throat, and curving upwards on either side to the ear; a patch of white on the lower part of the fore-neck; between these a brownish-grey band. Lower parts dull yellowish-white, each feather with a broad longitudinal band of chocolate-brown; abdomen and lower tail-coverts unspotted; tarsal feathers dull white.
Female, 101/2; wing from flex. 61/4; tail 31/2.
From Nova Scotia eastward. Rather rare.
Little Night Owl, Strix passerina, Aud. v. v. p. 269.
Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Feet rather long, slender; tarsus covered with short soft feathers, of which the shafts only remain toward the lower part; toes short, their upper surface covered with bristles or the shafts of feathers; tail short, arched, narrow, slightly rounded. Bill greyish-yellow; claws black. General colour of upper parts light yellowish-brown, or umber-brown, spotted with white; the quills with triangular reddish-white spots from the margins of both webs, there being five on each web of the first; the tail similarly barred, there being on the middle feathers four double spots, and the tips of all white. Face greyish-white; throat and ruff white, succeeded by a mottled brown band, beneath which is a patch of white; the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white, with broad bars of light reddish-brown, which are closer on the sides of the breast; abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and legs without spots.
Male, 10, 24. Female, 11.
Prairies west of the Mississippi. Abundant.
Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Say, in Long's Exped. v. i. p. 200.
Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 68.
Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 264.
Burrowing Owl, Strix cunicularia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 118.
Plate CCCCXXXII. Fig. 4, 5. Male.
Tail of moderate length, straight, slightly rounded; wings rather short, much rounded, fourth quill longest, outer three abruptly cut out on the inner web, the first with its filaments thickened but not recurvate, those of the second and third also thickened toward the end. General colour of the upper parts olivaceous brown; the head with numerous small, roundish, yellowish-white spots margined with dusky, of which there are two on each feather; the rest of the upper parts marked with larger, angular, whitish spots; the quills generally with three small and five large white spots on the outer and inner webs; the tail barred with transversely oblong white spots, of which there are seven pairs on the middle feathers. Facial disk brown, spotted with white; throat white, then a transverse brown band, succeeded by white; the lower parts white, with longitudinal brownish-black streaks, the sides brown, faintly spotted with paler. Young with the upper parts rufous, the head with fewer and smaller white spots; those on the lower part of the hind neck very large; the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts unspotted; the wings marked as in the adult, but with pale red spots in the outer, and reddish-white on the inner webs; the tail with only five bands of spots; the lower parts white, longitudinally streaked with light red, of which colour are the sides of the body and neck, and a band across the throat.
Male, 7, wing 37½/12.
Columbia River.
Cheveche chevechoide, Strix passerinoides, Temm. Pl. Col. 344.
Little Columbian Owl, Strix passerinoides, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 271.
Bill short, strong, very deep, its upper outline decurved from the base; lower mandible abruptly rounded, with a notch on each side. Nostrils broadly elliptical, rather large. Conch of ear very large, elliptical, extending from the base of the lower jaw to near the top of the head, with an anterior semicircular operculum in its whole length. Feet rather short, strong; tarsi and toes covered with very soft downy feathers. Plumage full, and very soft; facial disks complete. Wings rather long, very broad, much rounded, the third quill longest; the filaments of the first, half of the second, and the terminal part of the third, free and recurved. Tail of moderate length, arched, slightly rounded.
Plate CCCLXXX. Male and Female.
General colour of upper parts greyish-brown tinged with olive; feathers of the head with an elliptical central white spot; those of the neck with a larger spot; scapulars with two or four large round spots near the end, and some of the dorsal feathers and wing-coverts with single spots on the outer web; all the quills margined with white spots on both webs, arranged in transverse series, there being six on the outer web of the third; on the tail five series of transversely elongated white spots. Disk yellowish-white, anteriorly black; ruff yellowish-white, mottled with dusky; throat brown, chin white; lower parts yellowish-white, longitudinally streaked with brown; some of the feathers of the sides with two white spots; tarsal and digital feathers greyish-yellow, with faint transverse brown bars.
Male, 11, wing 610/12. Female, 12.
From Maine on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward.
Strix Tengmalmi, Tengmalm's Owl, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 94.
Tengmalm's Owl, Strix Tengmalmi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 559.
Plate CXCIX. Male and Female.
General colour of upper part olivaceous brown; scapulars and some of the wing-coverts spotted with white; the first six primary quills obliquely barred with white; tail darker, with two narrow white bars; upper part of head streaked with greyish-white; disks pale yellowish-grey; ruff white, spotted with dusky. Lower parts whitish, the sides and breast marked with broad elongated patches of brownish-red.
Male, 71/2, 17. Female, 81/2, 18.
From North Carolina on the east, and from Columbia River on the west, northward.
Little Owl, Strix passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 61.
Strix acadica, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.
Strix acadica, American Sparrow Owl, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 97.
Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 137.
Little or Acadian Owl, Strix acadica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 567: v. v. p. 397.
Bill short, compressed, deep, strong; upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight to the end of the cere, then curved, the sides nearly flat and erect, the tip deflected, with a rounded but sharp-edged point; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex, the sides convex, the edges arched, the tip obliquely truncate. Conch of the ear semicircular, extending from over the anterior angle of the eye to the middle of the lower jaw; aperture large, somewhat square, with an anterior operculum fringed with feathers. Legs rather long, tarsus long, feathered, scaly at the lower part; toes large, the first short, the inner nearly as long as the middle, all with series of small tuberculiform oblong scales, intermixed with a few bristles, and three broad scutella at the end. Claws arched, long, extremely sharp, the edge of the third thin and transversely cracked in old birds. Plumage very soft and downy; facial disks complete. Wings long, ample, rounded; the first quill with the filaments recurved. Tail rather short, even.
Plate CLXXI. Male and Female.
Feathers margining the operculum with the shaft and webs undeveloped. Bill pale greyish-yellow; claws and scales brownish-yellow. General colour of upper parts greyish-brown, with light yellowish-red interspersed, produced by very minute mottling; each feather having toward the end a central streak of deep brown, terminated by a small oblong greyish-white spot; wings similarly coloured; secondary coverts and outer edges of primary coverts with a large proportion of light brownish-red; quills and tail transversely barred with brown; lower parts pale brownish-red, fading anteriorly into white, each feather having a small dark brown spot at the tip.
Closely allied to Strix flammea, but larger, and differing somewhat in colour, being generally darker, with the ruff red. A character by which they may always be distinguished is found in the operculum, the feathers margining which are in the present species reduced to their tubes, the shafts and filaments being wanting, whereas in the European species each tube bears a very slender shaft, about half an inch long, and furnished with about half a dozen filaments on each side.
Male, 17, 42. Female, 18, 46.
Southern States. Breeds from Texas to North Carolina. Never seen in the interior, or to the north. Rather common.
White or Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 57.
Strix flammea, Bonap. Synops. p. 38.
White or Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 139.
Barn Owl, Strix flammea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 403: v. v. p. 388.
Bill short, stout, broad at the base; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex to the end of the cere, then curved, the sides sloping and nearly flat, the tip compressed, decurved, acute; lower mandible small, with the dorsal line convex, the tip narrow, the edges decurved toward the end. Nostrils large, elliptical. Conch of the ear of medium size, and furnished with an anterior semicircular operculum, beset with slender feathers. Legs rather short; tarsi very short, and with the toes feathered. Claws slightly curved, long, slender, compressed, acuminate. Plumage very soft and downy; facial disks complete. Wings very large, much rounded, the outer quill with the tips of the filaments separated and recurved, as are those of the terminal portion of the next; the outer six with the inner webs sinuate. Tail broad, rounded.
Plate CCCLI. Female.
Upper parts greyish-brown, variegated with greyish-white in irregular undulated markings; the feathers on the upper part of the head with two transverse white spots on each web; the smaller wing-coverts of a darker brown, and less mottled than the back; the outer scapulars with more white on their outer webs; primaries blackish-brown toward the end, in the rest of their extent marked with a few broad light grey oblique bands, dotted and undulated with darker; tail similarly barred; ruff-feathers white toward the end, dark brown in the centre; disks on their inner sides grey, with black tips, in the rest of their extent greyish-white, with six bars of blackish-brown very regularly disposed in a concentric manner; lower parts greyish-brown, variegated with greyish and yellowish-white; feet barred with the same.
Female, 301/2, 481/2.
From Massachusetts on the east, and Columbia River on the west, northward. Migratory.
Great Grey or Cinereous Owl, Strix cinerea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 128.
Cinereous Owl, Strix cinerea, Swain. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 77.
Great Cinereous Owl, Strix cinerea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 364.
Plate XLVI. Male.
General colour of upper parts light reddish-brown; face and greater part of the head brownish-white; the feathers of the latter broadly marked with brown, of which a narrow band passes from the bill along the middle of the head; feathers of the back and most of the wing-coverts largely spotted with white; primary coverts, quills, and tail, barred with light brownish-red; wings and tail tipped with greyish-white; lower parts pale brownish-red, longitudinally streaked with brown, excepting the neck and upper part of the breast, which are transversely marked, the abdomen, which is yellowish-white, and the tarsal feathers, which are light reddish.
Male, 18, 40.
From Texas to Nova Scotia. Resident in the south and west. Very abundant.
Barred Owl, Strix nebulosa, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 61.
Strix nebulosa, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.
Barred Owl, Strix nebulosa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 133.
Barred Owl, Strix nebulosa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 242: v. v. p. 386.
Bill short, stout, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly curved from the base, toward the end decurved, the ridge broad at the base, narrowed anteriorly, the sides convex toward the tip, which is acute, and descends obliquely; lower mandible straight, with the dorsal line very short and slightly convex, the back and sides convex, the edges toward the end decurved, and with a slight sinus on each side, the tip obliquely truncate. Nostrils large, oblique, oblong. Conch of extreme size; extending from the level of the forehead over the eye to the chin in a semilunar form, with an anterior semicircular flap in its whole length, the aperture large, of a rhomboidal form. Feet of moderate length, and stout; tarsi short, feathered, as are the toes; the first shortest, the second and fourth nearly equal; claws long, curved in the fourth of a circle, extremely acute, the first and second rounded beneath. Plumage extremely soft and downy, facial disks complete, ruff distinct. Two small tufts of elongated feathers on the head. Wings long and broad; the second quill longest; the outer in its whole length, the second toward the end, and the first alular feather, with the filaments disunited and recurved at the ends. Tail rather short, a little rounded.
Tufts elongated; general colour of plumage buff, mottled and spotted with brown and greyish-white; dirty whitish anteriorly, with the tips black, posteriorly reddish-white; ruff mottled with red and black; upper part of head minutely mottled with whitish, brownish-black, and light red; the tufts light reddish toward the base, brownish-black in the centre toward the end, the inner edge white, dotted with dark brown; upper parts buff, variegated with brown and whitish-grey, minutely mottled or undulatingly barred; first row of coverts tipped with white; quills and scapulars pale grey barred with dark brown, the primaries buff toward the base externally. Tail with ten bars on the middle and eight on the outer feathers; lower parts with more buff and fewer spots than the upper, each feather with a long dark brown streak, and several irregular transverse bars; legs and toes pure buff.
Male, 141/2, 38. Female, 16, 40.
From Maryland eastward, and Kentucky westward to the Missouri. Rather rare. Resident.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 52.
Strix Otus, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 130.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 573.
Tufts inconspicuous, general colour of plumage buff variegated with dark brown; eye surrounded by a ring of brownish-black, much broader behind; anterior half of disk white, with the tips black, posterior yellowish; anterior auricular ruff white, posterior yellowish, each feather with an oblong dark brown spot; upper parts buff, longitudinally streaked with dark brown; scapulars and wing-coverts spotted and banded in large patches, many with a large yellowish-white spot on the outer web near the end; quills buff, with two or three dark brown bands; tail similar, with five broad dark bands, the tip yellowish-white; on the middle feathers, the light-coloured spaces have a brown central patch; lower parts pale buff, whitish behind, the neck with oblong, the breast and sides with linear dark brown streaks; chin, feet, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted.
Male, 15, 40. Female, 17, 45.
From Texas eastward. Columbia River. Common. Migratory.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 64.
Strix brachyotos, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 132.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 273.
Bill short, stout, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line curved from the base, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip trigonal, very acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Nostrils broadly elliptical, aperture of ear elliptical, less than half the height of the head, without operculum. Feet of ordinary length; tarsi and toes feathered. Plumage full and very soft; facial disks complete; a tuft of elongated feathers on each side of the crown of the head. Wings ample, the first quill short, the fourth longest. Tail of ordinary length, rounded.
Plate LXI. Male and Female.
Upper part of the head brownish-black, mottled with light brown, the tufts of the same colour, margined with brown; face brownish-red, with a circle of blackish-brown; upper parts undulatingly banded and minutely mottled with brownish-black and yellowish-red, behind tinged with grey; wings and tail light brownish-yellow, barred and mottled with blackish-brown and light brownish-red; chin white; upper part of throat light reddish, spotted with black, a band of white across the middle of fore neck; its lower part and the breast light yellowish-red, barred with deep brown, as are the lower parts generally; several longitudinal brownish-black patches on the lower fore neck; tarsal feathers light yellowish-red, obscurely barred.
Male, 23, 56. Female, 25, 60.
From Texas northward. Resident. Not rare in the south.
Great Horned-Owl, Strix Virginiana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 52.
Strix Virginiana, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Great Horned-Owl or Cat Owl, Strix Virginiana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 124.
Great Horned-Owl, Strix Virginiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 313; v. v. p. 393.
Plate XCVII. Adult and Young.
Adult with the upper parts pale brown, spotted and dotted with brownish-black; a pale grey line from the base of the upper mandible over each eye; quills light brownish-grey, barred with brownish-black, their coverts dark brown, secondary coverts with the tip white; throat yellowish-grey, lower parts light grey, patched and sprinkled with brownish-black; tail-feathers tinged with red. Young with the upper parts light brownish-red, each feather with a central blackish-brown line; tail and quills barred with dull brown; a line over the eye, and the tips of the secondary coverts reddish-white; breast and sides light yellowish-grey, spotted and lined with brownish-black and bright reddish-brown, the rest of the lower parts yellowish-grey, the tarsal feathers pale yellowish-red.
Male, 10, 22. Female, 10, 23.
From Texas eastward. Columbia River. Resident. Abundant.
Mottled Owl, Strix nævia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 16. Adult.
Red Owl, Strix Asio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 83. Young.
Mottled and Red Owl, Strix Asio, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 120.
Little Screech Owl, Strix Asio, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 486; v. v. p. 392.
Mouth opening to beneath the centre of the eyes; bill much depressed, generally feeble, the horny part being small; upper mandible with the tip somewhat decurved. Nostrils elliptical, prominent, marginate. Eyes extremely large. Aperture of ear elliptical, very large. Head of extreme breadth, depressed; body very slender. Feet very small; tarsus partially feathered, scaly; anterior toes webbed at the base; hind toe small, and versatile, all scutellate above; claw of third toe generally elongated, with the inner margin thin and pectinate. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings very long, the second and third quills longest. Tail long, of ten feathers. Œsophagus rather wide, without crop; stomach very large, roundish, its muscular coat very thin, and composed of a single series of strong fasciculi; epithelium very hard, with longitudinal rugæ; intestine short and wide; cœca large, oblong, narrow at the base; cloaca globular. Trachea of nearly uniform width, without inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in hollow trees. Eggs generally two. Young covered with down. Very nearly allied in some respects to the Owls.
Bill feeble, gape extending to beneath the posterior angle of the eye. Nostrils elliptical, prominent. Wings long, pointed, the second quill longest; tail long. Claw of middle toe pectinate. Along the base of the bill on each side, a series of feathers having very strong shafts, terminating in an elastic filamentous point, and with the barbs or lateral filaments extremely slender, distant, and not extended beyond the middle of the shaft. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings long and pointed, the second quill longest; tail long, rounded.
Plate LII. Male and Female.
Bristles with lateral filaments; tail slightly rounded. Head and back dark brown, minutely mottled with yellowish-red, and longitudinally streaked with black; three bands of the latter colour, from the lower mandible diverging along the head; a yellowish-white line over the eye; wings barred with yellowish-red and brownish-black, and minutely sprinkled with the latter colour, as are the wing-coverts, which, together with the scapulars, are largely spotted with black, and tinged with grey; tail similarly barred and dotted; terminal half of the inner webs of the three outer feathers white, their extremities light red; lower parts dull reddish-yellow, sprinkled with dusky; a band of whitish feathers barred with black on the fore neck. Female like the male, but without white on the tail.
Male, 123/4, 26. Female, 131/4, 30.
From Texas to North Carolina. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Resident in the Floridas.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 95.
Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 61.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, v. i. p. 612.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 273; v. v. p. 401.
Bristles without lateral filaments; tail much rounded. General colour of upper parts dark brownish-grey, streaked and minutely sprinkled with brownish-black; quills and coverts dark brown, spotted in bars with light brownish-red; four middle tail-feathers like those of the back, the three lateral white in their terminal half; throat and breast similar to the back, with a transverse band of white on the fore neck, the rest of the lower parts paler and mottled. Female like the male, but with the lateral tail-feathers reddish-white toward the tip only, and the band across the fore neck pale yellowish-brown.
Male, 91/2, 19. Female.
From Texas to Lake Huron, and the base of the Rocky Mountains. A few remain in winter in Florida.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 71.
Caprimulgus vociferus, Bonap. Syn. p. 62.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 422; v. v. p. 405.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 614.
Mouth opening to beneath the centre of the eyes; bill extremely small; upper mandible with the tip decurved, and a deep lateral groove. Nostrils oblong, prominent, marginate. Eyes very large. Aperture of ear elliptical, very large. Head very large, depressed, but less so than in Caprimulgus. Claw of middle toe pectinate. No bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed, with the first quill longest, and the secondaries very short. Tail emarginate.
Plate CXLVII. Male and Female.
Upper parts brownish-black, mottled with white and pale reddish-brown; a conspicuous white bar extending across the inner web of the first, and the whole breadth of the next four quills; tail-feathers barred with brownish-grey, the four outer on each side plain brownish-black towards the end, with a large white spot; sides of the head and fore neck mottled like the back; a broad white band, in the form of the letter V reversed on the throat and sides of the neck; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, transversely undulated with dark brown. Female similar, with the dark parts more brown, the white more tinged with red, the band on the throat brownish-white, and the white spots on the tail-feathers wanting.
Male, 91/2, 231/2. Female, 93/4, 233/4.
From Texas northward. Columbia River. Throughout the interior. Migratory. Very abundant.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Americanus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. Biog. v. v. p. 65.
Caprimulgus Virginianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 62.
Caprimulgus (Chordeiles) Virginianus, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. i. p. 62.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Americanus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 619.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Virginianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 273; v. v. p. 406.
Mouth opening to beneath the hind part of the eyes; bill extremely short, very broad at the base, compressed at the end; upper mandible decurved at the point, the edge inflected, with an indistinct sinus. Nostrils basal, approximate, oblong. Head large and depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet extremely short; tarsus rounded, destitute of scutella; toes extremely short, the three anterior nearly equal; hind toe very small, and versatile; claws strong, compressed, arched, very acute. Plumage compact; no bristles at the base of the upper mandible; wings extremely elongated, falciform, the first quill longest; tail of ten feathers. Œsophagus of moderate width, without crop; stomach oblong, moderately muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, and rather wide; no cœca. No inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest in crevices or holes, or attached to high places. Eggs elongated, white.
All the characters as above. Tarsus bare, longer than the middle toe, which scarcely exceeds the outer. Tail short, even, the shafts very strong, and prolonged into acuminate points.
Brownish-black, lighter on the rump, with a slight greenish gloss on the head and back; throat greyish-white, lower parts greyish-brown, tinged with green; loral space black, and a greyish-white line over the eye. Female similar to the male.
Male, 41/4, 12.
Extends as far eastward as Nova Scotia. Abundant. Migratory.
Chimney Swallow, Hirundo pelasgia, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. v. p. 48.
Cypselus pelasgius, Bonap. Syn. p. 63.
Chimney Swift or Swallow, Cypselus pelasgius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 609.
Chimney Swallow or American Swift, Cypselus pelasgius, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. ii. p. 329; v. v. p. 419.
Bill very short, much depressed and very broad at the base, compressed toward the tip; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex, the edges overlapping, with a small notch close to the slightly decurved tip. Head broad, depressed; neck very short, body moderate. Feet very short, tarsus very short, anteriorly scutellate; toes of moderate size; first large, all scutellate in their whole length; claws rather strong, compressed, well curved, acute. Plumage soft, blended, glossy. No bristles at the base of the bill. Wings extremely long, narrow, pointed, somewhat falciform; secondaries very short. Tail generally emarginate, of twelve feathers. Mouth extremely wide; œsophagus rather wide, without crop; stomach elliptical or roundish, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; cœca very small. Four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest in holes in banks, buildings, or trees, or attached to the surface of these objects. Eggs from four to six, white, plain, or spotted.
Characters as above; tail emarginate or forked.
Plate XXIII. Male and Female.
Bill rather stout; wings as long as the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Plumage silky, shining, purplish-black, with steel blue reflections; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black; tarsi and toes purplish-black. Female with the upper parts paler, and tinged with grey, the lower light grey, longitudinally streaked with black.
Male, 71/2, 16. Female, 74/12, 159/12.
From the Texas northward. Rocky Mountains, and all intermediate districts. Migratory.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 58.
Hirundo purpurea, Bonap. Syn. p. 64.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 598.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 115; v. v. p. 408.
Plate XCVIII. Male and Female.
Wings a little longer than the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Upper parts steel blue, with green reflections, lower white; feet flesh-coloured. Female similar to the male.
Male, 51/4, 10. Female.
From Texas northward. Columbia River, and all intermediate districts. Winters in Florida and Louisiana.
Green-blue or White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo viridis, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iii. p. 44.
Hirundo bicolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 65.
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 605.
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 491; v. v. p. 417.
Bill shorter than in the last species; wings of the same length as the tail, which is slightly emarginate. Upper part of head, back, and smaller wing-coverts black with bluish-green reflections; forehead white, generally tinged with red; loral space and a band on the lower part of the forehead black; chin, throat, and sides of the neck deep brownish-red; a patch of black on the fore-neck; rump light yellowish-red; lower parts greyish-white, anteriorly tinged with red. Female similar to the male. Young dark greyish-brown above, reddish-white beneath.
Male, 51/2, 12. Female, 54/12, 123/4.
From Kentucky northward. Abundant from New York to Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Rocky Mountains. Migratory.
Fulvous or Cliff Swallow, Hirundo fulva, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 63.
Hirundo fulva, Bonap. Syn. p. 64.
Fulvous or Cliff Swallow, Hirundo fulva, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 603.
Republican or Cliff Swallow, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 353; v. v. p. 415.
Plate CLXXIII. Male and Female.
Tail very deeply forked, the lateral feathers much exceeding the wings. Forehead and throat bright chestnut; upper parts and a band on the fore-neck glossy deep steel-blue; quills and tail brownish-black glossed with green; the latter with a white spot on the inner web of each of the feathers, except the two middle. Female similar to the male. Young less deeply coloured, the forehead and throat pale red, the band on the fore-neck dusky tinged with red; lateral tail-feathers not exceeding the wings.
Male, 7, 13. Female, 65/12, 129/12.
Throughout North America, Europe, and Africa. Migratory.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 34.
Hirundo Americana, American Barn Swallow, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 329.
Hirundo rufa, Bon. Syn. p. 64.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rufa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 601.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 413; v. v. p. 411.
Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Bill narrower than in the preceding species; wings extremely long, extending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head deep green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck; back rich grass-green, rump and upper tail-coverts carmine purple; a line over the eye, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white, excepting the wing-coverts, which are light grey. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, glossed with green; the back as in the male, the rump greyish-brown; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with grey.
Male, 410/12, wing 46/12.
California, Rocky Mountains, and Oregon Territory. Migratory.
Hirundo thalassinus, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. for 1827, p. 365.
Violet-green Swallow, Hirundo thalassina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 597.
Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Fig. 3. Young.
Tail slightly forked, margin of first quill smooth, tarsus with a tuft of feathers behind; upper parts greyish-brown, lower whitish, with a dusky band across the fore part of the neck. Young with the feathers of the upper parts margined with reddish-white.
Male, 5, 11. Female, 47/8.
From Texas northward. Rocky Mountains. Columbia River. Migratory; but vast numbers winter in Florida.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 46.
Hirundo riparia, Bonap. Syn. p. 65.
Hirundo riparia, Sand Martin, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 333.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 607.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 584.
Tail slightly emarginate, margin of first quill rough with the strong decurved tips of the filaments, tarsus bare; upper parts greyish-brown, lower pale greyish-brown, white behind. Very nearly allied to the last in form and colour, but readily distinguishable by drawing the finger along the edge of the wing, when the stiff projecting tips of the filaments are felt like the edge of a fine saw.
Male, 53/4, 121/2.
Louisiana and South Carolina. Migratory.
Rough-winged Swallow, Hirundo serripennis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 593.
Bill depressed, triangular, compressed at the end, upper mandible notched, lower with the point slightly ascending. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet generally short; tarsus short, slender, with very broad scutella; toes four, free; the hind toe not proportionally large; claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, with the first quill generally long, the outer three longest. Tail various. Tongue flattened, sagittate, bristly at the tip; œsophagus wide, without crop; stomach elliptical, moderately muscular, with the lateral muscles distinct, the epithelium thin, dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short; cœca extremely small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple; inferior laryngeal muscles, forming on each side a large pad, but not divisible into several portions as in the singing birds. Nests regularly formed, cup-shaped. Eggs from four to six.
Bill moderate, rather stout, straight, broad at the base, gradually compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline a little convex, the edges sharp and nearly perpendicular, with a very small notch close to the small deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge very broad at the base, the sides rounded, the tip minute and ascending. Nostrils basal, broadly elliptical. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet rather short; tarsus short, slender, compressed, with very broad scutella, some of which almost meet behind; toes free, the hind toe not proportionally larger, all scutellate above; claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, second quill longest, first almost as long as third, the three outer abruptly notched near the attenuated tip. Tail extremely elongated and forked, the middle feathers being of ordinary length, the lateral longest.
Plate CLXVIII. Male.
Tail more than twice the length of the body; upper part of head and cheeks deep black, the feathers of the crown bright yellow at the base; back ash-grey, rump bluish-black; wings and tail brownish-black, the lateral feathers of the latter with the outer web white for half its length; lower parts white.
Male, 141/4, 14.
In Louisiana, very rare. Accidental in New Jersey.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 1.
Muscicapa Savana, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 274.
Forked-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa Savana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 387.
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 3. Male.
Tail longer than the body; upper part of the head, cheeks, and hind neck ash-grey; back brownish-grey, rump dusky; anterior wing-coverts scarlet, quills brownish-black, tail-feathers deep black, the three outer on each side rose-coloured to near the end; lower parts white before, rose-coloured behind.
Male, 11, wing 51/8.
Arkansas. Rare in Louisiana.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 15.
Muscicapa forficata, Bonap. Syn. p. 275.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 275.
Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa forficata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 426.
Bill moderate, or rather long, stout, straight, broad at the base, gradually compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very small notch close to the small deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge very broad at the base, the sides rounded, the tip minute and ascending. Nostrils basal, roundish. Head rather large, depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet short; tarsus very short, slender, with six very broad scutella, three of which almost meet behind; toes free, the hind toe large, all scutellate above; claws rather long, very slender, arched, finely pointed. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, second and third quills longest; outer primaries generally attenuated at the end. Tail long, even, or emarginate.
* Bill large. Head with a vermilion patch, outer quills attenuated. Tyrannus of authors.
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
The outer five primaries much attenuated toward the end, the first more so, the fifth least, the third longest, but the outer four nearly equal; tail almost even. Upper parts ash-grey, the back tinged with yellow; a patch of bright vermilion on the top of the head; wing-coverts and quills chocolate-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail black, the outer web of the lateral feathers yellowish-white; throat greyish-white, sides and fore part of neck ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts pure yellow. Female similar.
Male, 9, 151/2.
Columbia River, Rocky Mountains, and across to Texas. Accidental in Louisiana. Migratory.
Tyrannus verticalis, Say Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 60.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 18.
Muscicapa verticalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 273.
Arkansaw Flycatcher, Muscicapa verticalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 422; v. v.
Plate CLXXII. Male.
The outer six primaries attenuated at the end, the first more so, the sixth least; the third longest, but the second almost equal, the fourth and fifth very little shorter, the first much longer than the seventh; tail emarginate. Upper parts dull ash-grey, shaded with brown posteriorly; a concealed patch of bright vermilion on the top of the head; wing-coverts, quills and tail chocolate-brown, margined with brownish-white; lower parts anteriorly ash-grey, behind greyish-white tinged with yellow, lower wing-coverts pale sulphur yellow. Female similar.
Male, 87/8, 143/8.
Florida Keys; and southern parts of South Carolina. Abundant. Migratory.
Tyrannus griseus, Vieill., Ois. d'Amer. pl. 46.
Pipiry Flycatcher, Muscicapa dominicensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 392.
Plate LXXIX. Male and Female.
The outer two primaries attenuated at the end, the second longest, the first longer than the third; tail even. Upper parts dark bluish-grey, the head greyish-black, with a bright vermilion patch margined with yellow; quills, coverts, and tail-feathers brownish-black, the former margined with dull white; the latter largely tipped with white; lower parts greyish-white, the breast pale grey. Female duller, the upper parts tinged with brown, the lower more dusky.
Male, 81/2, 141/2.
North America generally. Migratory. A few winter in South Florida.
Lanius Tyrannus, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 136.
Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 66.
Muscicapa Tyrannus, Bonap. Syn. p. 66.
King-bird or Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 265.
Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 403; v. v. p. 420.
** Bill large. Head plain, crested, quills not attenuated.
Plate CXXIX. Male.
Third quill longest, first and sixth equal; upper parts dull greenish-olive; quills and coverts dark brown, the primaries margined with light red, the secondaries with yellowish-white, of which there are two bars across the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; inner webs of the tail-feathers, except the two middle, light red; margins of inner webs of quills tinged with the same; fore-neck and sides of the head greyish-blue, the rest of the lower parts yellow. Female similar.
Male, 81/2, 13.
From Texas northward, generally distributed. Abundant. Migratory.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa crinita, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 75.
Muscicapa crinita, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 271.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa crinita, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 176; v. v. p. 423.
Wing pointed, second quill longest, first longer than third, tail emarginate, the three first primaries very slightly attenuated at the ends; upper parts, cheeks, and sides of the neck, dusky brown, tinged with greyish-olive, the head darker; quills and tail blackish-brown, the secondaries margined with brownish-white; downy feathers on the sides of the rump white; lower parts greyish-white, the sides dusky grey. Young similar to adult.
Male, 71/2, 123/4.
From Texas northward along the Atlantic. Never seen far in the interior. Columbia River. Migratory.
Olive-sided Flycatcher or Pe-pe, Muscicapa Cooperi, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 282.
Tyrannus borealis, Northern Tyrant, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 141.
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Muscicapa Cooperi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 422; v. v. p. 422.
* Bill more slender. Tyrannula of authors.
Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Third quill longest, second and fourth scarcely shorter, first a little longer than sixth; tail very slightly emarginate; upper parts greyish-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint than the back, the feathers margined with brownish-white; a dusky spot before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light greyish-brown, shaded with pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts reddish-white.
Male, 7, wing 42/12.
Arkansas. Columbia River. Fur Countries. Never seen along the Atlantic. Abundant. Migratory.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 20.
Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. Syn. p. 67.
Tyrannula Saya, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 142.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 277.
Say's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Saya, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 428.
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 6. Male.
Third quill longest, second and fourth little shorter, first and sixth about equal; tail very slightly emarginate; head, hind neck, fore part of back, fore neck, a portion of the head, and sides, dark sooty-brown; the rest of the upper parts greyish-brown; secondary coverts tipped, and secondaries margined with greyish-white, of which colour is the great part of the outer web of the lateral tail-feathers; middle of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts white; lower wing-coverts greyish-brown, edged with white.
Male, 7, wing 37½/12.
Mexico and California. Rare. Migratory.
Tyrannula nigricans, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. N. S. v. i. p. 367.
Rocky Mountain Flycatcher, Muscicapa nigricans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 302.
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 5. Male.
Second quill longest, third almost equal, first and fourth nearly equal; tail slightly emarginate; upper parts dark olivaceous brown; the head darker, wings and tail blackish-brown, secondary coverts tipped with brownish-white, and secondary quills margined with the same; outer edges of lateral tail-feathers pale brownish-grey; fore part of neck, breast, and sides light dusky grey tinged with olive, abdomen pale dull yellow, lower tail-coverts brownish-grey margined with yellowish-white.
Male, 69/12, wing 31/4.
Columbia River. Fur Countries. Labrador. Rare. Migratory.
Tyrannula Richardsonii, Swainson's Short-legged Pewit, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 146.
Short-legged Pewee Flycatcher, Muscicapa Richardsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 299.
Plate CXLIV. Male and Female.
Bill broad and much depressed; second quill longest, third a little shorter, first shorter than fourth; tail scarcely emarginate, upper parts dull greenish-olive, the head darker; wings and tail dusky-brown; two bands of dull pale yellow on the wing, the secondary quills broadly edged and tipped with the same; a narrow ring of yellowish-white round the eye; throat greyish-white; sides of neck and fore part of breast greyish-olive, the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
From Texas northward. Migratory.
Small Green Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa querula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 77.
Small Pewee, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 288.
Muscicapa acadica, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Small Green-Crested Flycatcher, Muscicapa acadica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 256; v. v. p. 427.
Plate CXX. Male and Female.
Wing much rounded, third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, but considerably longer than second, first intermediate between sixth and seventh; tail emarginate; upper parts dull olive, the head much darker; quills and tail dusky brown, secondaries and their coverts edged with pale brown; outer tail-feathers whitish on the outer edge, unless toward the tip; lower parts dull yellowish white, the breast tinged with grey.
Male, 7, 91/2.
Throughout the United States, and northward. Spends the winter in vast numbers in the southern parts.
Pewit Flycatcher, Muscicapa nunciola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 78.
Muscicapa fusca, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Pewit Flycatcher or Phœbe, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 278.
Pewee Flycatcher, Muscicapa fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 122; v. v. p. 424.
Plate CXV. Male.
Slightly crested; second quill longest, first shorter than third and longer than sixth; tail deeply emarginate; upper parts dusky olive, upper part of head much darker; a pale greyish ring round the eye; two bands of greyish-white on the wings, secondaries margined with the same; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; throat and breast ash-grey tinged with green, the rest of the lower parts pale greenish-yellow.
Male, 61/2, 11.
Throughout the United States. British Provinces. Labrador. Newfoundland. Rocky Mountains. Columbia River. Migratory.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa rapax, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 81.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 285.
Muscicapa virens, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 93; v. v. p. 425.
Plate XLV. Male.
Slightly crested; wing rounded, with the third quill longest, second and fourth almost equal, first a little longer than sixth; tail slightly rounded, and faintly emarginate; upper parts dusky olive, upper part of head much darker; a pale greyish ring round the eye; two bands of greyish-white on the wings, secondaries margined with the same; throat and breast ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts shaded into pale yellow.
Male, 53/4, 81/2.
Arkansas. Columbia River. Migratory.
Traill's Flycatcher, Muscicapa virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 236; v. v. p. 426.
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 1. Adult.
Third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, second nearly one-twelfth shorter, and exceeding the first by three and a quarter twelfths; tail slightly emarginate; upper parts light greenish-brown; loral band whitish, a narrow pale ring surrounding the eye; wings olive-brown, with two bands of dull white, secondaries margined with the same; tail olive-brown, the lateral feathers lighter, the outer web pale brownish-grey; fore part of neck and a portion of the breast and sides ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts pale yellow.
Male, 52/12, wing 25/12.
Columbia River. Fur countries. Labrador. Newfoundland. Rare in the Atlantic States.
Tyrannula pusilla, Little Tyrant Flycatcher, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 144.
Little Tyrant Flycatcher, Muscicapa pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 288.
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 2. Male.
Wings short, the second quill longest; tail of moderate length, even; general colour of upper parts light greenish-brown; wings and tail dark olive-brown, the outer feathers of the latter with a terminal white spot on the inner web; a narrow white ring surrounding the eye; two bands of dull white on the wing; sides of the head and neck greenish-yellow, the rest of the lower parts pale yellow, gradually fading into white behind.
Male, 5, 82/8.
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Exceedingly rare. Migratory.
Small-headed Flycatcher, Muscicapa minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 62.
Sylvia minuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.
Small-headed Sylvan Flycatcher, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 296.
Plate XL. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Second and third quills equal and longest, fourth longer than first; tail rounded. Male with the head, neck all round, fore part of breast, and back, glossy bluish-black; sides of the breast, lower wing-coverts, a patch on the wings formed by the margins of the primaries and the basal half of most of the secondaries, together with three-fourths of both webs of the outer four tail-feathers on each side, and the outer web of the next, bright orange-red; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white. Female with the upper parts yellowish-brown, the head grey, the quills greyish-brown, the tail darker, the parts yellow which in the male are bright orange; the rest of the lower parts white, tinged with yellow. Young similar to the female, more grey above, and with less yellow beneath.
Male, 5, 61/2. Female.
Throughout the United States. Abundant. Migratory.
American Redstart, Muscicapa Ruticilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 103.
Muscicapa Ruticilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 68.
American Redstart, Muscicapa Ruticilla, Aud. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 202; v. v. p. 428.
American Redstart, Muscicapa Ruticilla, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 291.
Bill short, rather strong, somewhat triangular, depressed at the base, a little compressed at the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex at the end, the nasal groove wide, the sides convex toward the end, with a distinct notch, the tip short, rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the sides convex toward the end, the tip small, with a slight notch behind. Nostrils linear, oblong, partially concealed by the feathers. Head ovato-oblong; neck rather short; body slender. Feet short, and rather slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe with its claw, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long plate and three inferior scutella; toes free, the outer only adherent at the base; hind toe rather large, stouter, outer a little longer than inner; claws moderate, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended; slight bristles at the base of the upper mandible, and the feathers in the angle of the lower jaw bristle-tipped and curved forward. Wings long, rounded; first quill very small, fourth longest. Tail very long, straight, emarginate, and rounded, of twelve feathers.
This genus seems to connect the Thrushes with the Flycatchers.
Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 2. Female.
General colour dull brownish-grey; quills and coverts dusky brown; edge of wing dull white; basal part of primaries pale yellow, of secondaries ochre-yellow; edges of all the quills dull greyish-white; secondaries with a faint patch of light brownish-grey on the outer web toward the end; middle tail-feathers greyish-brown, the rest blackish-brown, the outer with an oblique white space, including, from the tip, a considerable portion of the inner web, and more than two-thirds of the outer; the next with a white patch at the end; lower parts paler than the upper; lower tail and wing-coverts broadly tipped with dull white, some of the inner wing-coverts white.
Female, 81/4, wing, 41/2.
Columbia River.
Townsend's Ptilogonys, Ptilogonys Townsendi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 206.
Bill of moderate length, depressed at the base, rapidly attenuated, becoming very slender toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the tip extremely narrow and deflected, the edges overlapping, the notch distinct, but very small; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, the ridge narrowed towards the end, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Nostrils oblong, exposed. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Feet of moderate length, tarsus longer than the middle toe, extremely slender, with the upper scutella indistinct; toes very small, extremely compressed; hind toe proportionally very large; outer adherent at the base. Claws well arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, concave; the first quill about a third of the length of the second, fourth longest, third and fifth little shorter. Tail long, slender, much rounded.
Plate LXXXIV. Male and Female.
Upper parts bright blue, deeper on the head, paler on the tail-coverts; a narrow black band on the forehead, extending over the eyes; wings brownish-black, margined with blue, some of the secondaries with bluish-white; tail glossy black, the outer feather on each side nearly all white, the next with its terminal half, and the third with its tip of that colour; lower parts greyish-white. Female similar, but with the tints duller, and the black band on the head wanting.
Male, 41/2, 61/2.
From Texas northward. Abundant. Migratory.
Blue-grey Flycatcher, Muscicapa cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 164.
Sylvia cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.
Blue-grey Sylvan Flycatcher, Muscicapa cœrulea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 297.
Blue-grey Flycatcher, Muscicapa cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 431.
Bill short, or of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat conical, considerably broader than high at the base, gradually compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight until near the end, the point very narrow, the notches very slight; lower mandible with the angle rather short and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the edges somewhat involute, the tip acute. Head moderate, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus longer than the middle toe, slender, much compressed, with eight anterior scutella, of which the upper are blended; toes rather small, or of moderate size, hind toe proportionally stout, outer adherent for a short way at the base; claws moderate, much compressed, arched, acute. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings of moderate length. Tail of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Tongue of moderate length, sagittate, tapering. Œsophagus of moderate width, without dilatation, proventriculus bulbiform; stomach of moderate size, roundish or elliptical, moderately muscular, with the muscles distinct; epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short, rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple; with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
Bill of moderate length, stoutish, straight, considerably broader than high, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the dorsal line convex toward the end, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very faint notch close to the slightly deflected tip; lower mandible with the ridge indistinct, the sides rounded, the edges somewhat involute, the tip narrow, not ascending. Nostrils basal, oblong. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus pretty stout, much compressed; scutella blended, excepting the lower three; toes of moderate length, very slender, the hind toe proportionally large, the third and fourth united at the base, all scutellate. Claws moderate, extremely compressed, well arched, very acute. Bristles at the base of the bill elongated but slender. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest, the first scarcely shorter than the fourth. Tail moderate, slightly rounded. Name from [Greek: Myia], an insect, [Greek: Diôchtês], a pursuer.
Plate CX. Male and Female. Plate IX. Young.
Third quill longest, second longer than fourth, which slightly exceeds the first; tail slightly emarginate and rounded. Male with the forehead, sides of the head, breast, sides, abdomen, lower wing and tail coverts, rich pure yellow; hind head and neck all round black; upper parts yellowish-olive; wings and tail dusky brown, margined with yellowish-olive, an oblique patch of white on the inner webs of the three outer tail-coverts. Female with the forehead, the sides of the head, the throat, and all the lower parts yellow, the hind part of the head dusky, the upper part as in the male. Young similar to the female, but with the tints a little duller.
Male, 51/2, 8.
From Texas to Virginia. In the interior, as far as Memphis on the Mississippi. Rather common. Migratory.
Hooded Flycatcher, Muscicapa cucullata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 101.
Sylvia mitrata, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Hooded Warbler, Sylvia mitrata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 66. Adult Male and Female; v. v. p. 465.
Selby's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Selbyii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 46. Young.
Plate CIII. Male and Female.
Third quill longest, scarcely exceeding the second, fourth slightly shorter, first intermediate between the fourth and fifth; tail rounded. Male with the upper parts ash-grey; the feathers of the wings and tail brown, edged with grey; the head spotted with black; loral space, a band beneath the eye, proceeding down the side of the neck, and a belt of triangular spots across the lower part of the fore neck, black; the lower parts, and a bar from the nostril over the eye, pure yellow; lower wing and tail-coverts white. Female similar to the male, but with the black spots on the neck smaller and fainter. Young similar to the female, with the tints paler, and the neck unspotted.
Male, 51/4, 9.
From Kentucky northward. Not found in the Atlantic districts. Migratory.
Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 27.
Canada Flycatcher, Muscicapa canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 100.
Sylvia pardalina, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Canada Flycatcher, Muscicapa canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 17.
Plate V. Male.
Bristles longer than in the last, second quill longest; tail very long, nearly even; upper parts light greyish-blue; quills dusky brown, their outer webs greyish-blue, the two outer margined with white; middle tail-feathers and edges of the rest like the back; lower parts and a band on the forehead ochre-yellow, with a few faint dusky spots on the lower part of the fore neck. This species differs from the last chiefly in being of a more elongated form, in having the bristles much longer, the upper parts of a much lighter tint; in wanting the black band down the side of the neck, and the yellow band over the eye, the bill is straighter and more pointed, and the outer primaries are edged with white.
Male, 51/4.
Louisiana. Only one specimen ever found.
Bonaparte's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Bonapartii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 27.
Plate XXXVIII. Male and Female.
Third quill longest, second scarcely shorter, first longer than fourth, the outer three being nearly equal. Tail slightly emarginate and slightly rounded. Male with the upper part of the head and a band from the base of the upper mandible under the eye and down the side of the neck black; a streak from the nostril over the eye, and all the lower parts bright yellow; the upper parts yellowish-olive; wings brown, the feathers margined with yellowish-olive; tail light greenish-brown. Female similar, without the black band on the cheek and neck, and the black of the head less extended.
Male, 51/2, 8.
Valley of the Mississippi, and Kentucky. Migratory.
Kentucky Warbler, Sylvia formosa, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 85.
Sylvia formosa, Bonap. Syn. p. 34.
Kentucky Warbler, Sylvia formosa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 196.
Plate CXXIV. Male and Female.
Wings short, the second and third quills longest and about equal, the first much shorter than the fourth and a little longer than the fifth; tail even. Back, rump, and upper tail-coverts yellowish-green; crown glossy bluish-black, bordered on the forehead and over the eyes with a broad band of bright yellow, of which colour are all the lower parts; wings and tail dusky brown, the feathers margined with yellowish-green. Female similar to the male, but with the black of the crown of much less extent. Young similar to the female, without black on the head.
Male, 41/2, 63/4.
From Texas northward, Columbia River, and intervening regions. Not in the Fur Countries. Rather rare. Migratory.
Green Black-capt Flycatcher, Muscicapa pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 103.
Sylvia Wilsonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.
Green Black-capt Warbler, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 149.
Green Black-capped Flycatcher, Muscicapa Wilsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 148.
Bill short, straight, rather strong, tapering, scarcely broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline declinate and nearly straight, the tip slightly declinate, the edges overlapping, with a slight notch; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval or oblong, partially concealed by the feathers. Head of ordinary size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus longer than the middle toe, much compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, very sharp behind; toes of moderate length, slender, free, the outer united as far as the second joint, the hind toe proportionally large; claws moderate, well arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible feeble. Wings rather long, little curved, pointed; the second quill longest, the first and third slightly shorter. Tail rather long, emarginate.
Second quill longest, third scarcely shorter, first longer than fourth; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts deep ash-grey, streaked with black; crown, rump, and a patch on the sides of the body, rich yellow: secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts tipped with white, which forms two bars on the wing; quills dark brown, margined with light greyish-brown; tail feathers brownish-black, margined with ash-grey, the outer three on each side with a white patch on the inner web near the end; a slender white line over the eye; feathers of the eyelids white; lore and cheek black; throat white; lower neck, fore part of breast and sides variegated with black, the tips of the feathers being white; the rest of the lower parts white. Female without the yellow spot on the crown, although the feathers there are tinged with that colour at the base; the upper parts tinged with light brown, the yellow spots on the sides and rump paler.
Male, 51/4, 81/2.
From Texas northward, and throughout the interior. Extremely common. Migratory.
Yellow-rump Warbler, Sylvia coronata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 138.
Sylvia coronata, Bonap. Syn. p. 78.
Yellow-crowned Warbler, or Myrtle Bird, Sylvia coronata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 361.
Yellow-rump Warbler, Sylvia coronata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 303.
Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Outer four quills nearly equal, second longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, streaked with black; crown, rump, upper part of throat, and a patch on the sides of the body, rich yellow; first row of small coverts largely tipped, and secondary coverts broadly margined and tipped with white, which thus forms a conspicuous patch on the wing; quills and tail brownish-black, narrowly margined with greyish-white; a patch of white on the inner webs of all the tail-feathers, but on the central reduced to a mere edging; a small white spot on each of the eyelids; loral space and cheek black; lower part of neck anteriorly, fore part of breast, and sides, variegated with black and white or ash-grey, the latter colours margining the feathers; the rest of the lower parts white. Female without the yellow spot on the crown, although the feathers there are tinged with that colour at the base; upper parts light brownish-grey, streaked with dusky; lower parts whitish, tinged with brown, and streaked with dusky; throat and rump yellow, but of a lighter tint than in the male, and but slight indications of the yellow patch on the sides; there is much less white on the wings, and the white patches on the tail-feathers are of less extent.
In size, form, and proportion, this species and Sylvicola coronata are almost precisely similar; and their colours are almost exactly alike, the only remarkable difference in this respect being, that the throat of the present species is yellow, while that of the former is white.
Male, 53/4, wing, 31/12.
Columbia River, northward. Common. Migratory.
Sylvia Audubonii, Audubon's Warbler, Townsend, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc., Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.
Audubon's Warbler, Sylvia Audubonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 52.
Plate CXXXIII. Male and Female.
First and second quills equal and longest, third a little shorter; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, streaked with black; the upper part of the head deep black; the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; primaries narrowly edged with greenish-yellow, secondaries broadly with white; three outer tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web at the end; cheeks and lower parts white; a band of black spots from the base of the lower mandible down the side of the neck and body. Female with the upper parts oil-green, streaked with black; the rump and upper tail-coverts plain and edged with grey; white wing-bands tinged with yellow; cheeks yellowish-grey, mottled with dusky, lower parts dull white, tinged with yellow and reddish the sides of the neck and body with fainter dark streaks. Young like the female.
Male, 51/4, 81/2.
From Texas to Labrador, where it breeds. Columbia River. Common. Migratory.
Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 40.
Sylvia striata, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.
Sylvicola striata, Black-poll Warbler, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 218.
Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 383.
Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 201.
Plate LXXXV. Male.
Outer three quills almost equal, second quill longest, fourth shorter than first; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts light greyish-blue; the forehead black, the crown spotted with the same; a white line over the eye; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills greyish-black, margined with light greyish-blue; tail-feathers of the same colour, the outer three with a patch of white on the inner web at the end; loral space, a band under the eye, ear-coverts, a band down the side of the neck, and numerous oblong spots on the sides of the body, black; throat bright yellow; rest of lower parts white. Female similar, but with the tints paler.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
From Texas to New Jersey. In the interior along the Mississippi to Natchez. Common. Migratory.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Sylvia flavicollis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 64.
Sylvia pensilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Sylvia pensilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 434.
Plate LXIX. Male and Female.
Outer three quills almost equal, fourth considerably shorter; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head, the fore neck, and the sides, chestnut-red; forehead and cheeks, including a small space over the eye, deep black, behind which is a transverse patch of yellowish-white on the sides of the neck; back bluish ash-grey, streaked with black; tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts white; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black edged with grey, the outer three of the latter with a white patch on the inner web near the end; middle of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, white, tinged with reddish. Female similar to the male, but with the tints fainter, especially the chestnut of the head and throat, which are converged into light brownish-red.
Male, 51/4, 11.
From Texas northward. Rather common. Migratory.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 97.
Sylvia castanea, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 382.
Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 358.
Plate LIX. Male and Female.
Outer three quills nearly equal, second slightly longer; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head light yellow, a small part of the forehead white; loral space and two bands proceeding from it, one over and behind the eye, the other downwards, black; upper parts bluish ash-grey, tinged behind with greenish-yellow, and streaked with black; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with pale yellow; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, primaries edged with greyish-white, secondaries with yellowish-green; outer three tail-feathers on each side with a white patch on the inner web at the end; lower parts white, sides of the neck and body deep chestnut. Female similar, but with the chestnut on the sides less extended, and the yellow on the head tinged with green.
Male, 51/4, 8.
From Texas northward. Rather common. Migratory.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 99.
Sylvia icterocephala, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 380.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 806.
Plate CXI. Male and Female. Plate XXX. Young Male.
Wings of moderate length, with the outer three quills almost equal, the first and second longest; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts light yellowish-green, inclining to olive, the rump brighter; a streak over the eye, the eyelids, throat, breast, and sides, bright yellow, with a greenish tinge, the rest of the lower parts white; wings and tail blackish-brown; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with dull white; primaries edged with whitish, secondaries with brownish-grey; outer two tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web near the end. Female with the upper parts yellowish-brown tinged with grey, the lower parts of paler and duller tints than in the male. Young similar to the female.
Male, 5, 8.
From Texas to Maine. Very abundant. Resident in the Southern and Middle States.
Pine Creeping Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 25.
Sylvia pinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.
Pine Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 387.
Pine Creeping Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 232.
Vigors's Warbler, Sylvia Vigorsii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 153. Young.
Plate CXXXIV. Male and Female. Plate LXXXVIII. Young.
Wings of moderate length, with the outer two quills almost equal, the first longest, the third little shorter; tail very slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, spotted with dusky, the head greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; primaries narrowly edged with greenish-white, secondaries broadly with white; outer two tail-feathers with the greater part white; a bright yellow streak over the eye; a dusky band on the lore and behind the eye; fore neck and breast bright yellow, the rest of the lower parts white, the sides streaked with black. Female similar to the male, but rather paler. Young with the upper parts light olive-brown; a pale line over the eye, which is encircled by a narrow line of whitish; wings and tail dark brown, the former with two brownish-white bands, the quills edged with brownish-white, the two outer tail-feathers with a white patch on the inner web; the lower parts dull white, tinged on the neck with yellow, on the sides with greyish-brown.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
Middle districts. Rather common. Migratory.
Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia parus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 114. Male.
Autumnal Warbler, Sylvia autumnalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 65. Young.
Sylvia parus, Bonap. Syn. p. 82.
Sylvia autumnalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 74.
Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia parus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 205. Adult.
Autumnal Warbler, Sylvia autumnalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 447.
Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Outer three quills almost equal, second very slightly longer; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts very light yellowish-green; the anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, and the sides of the neck, bright yellow; the fore part of the neck, anterior part of the sides, and some spots on the hind parts of the latter, black; the rest of the lower parts white, partially tinged with yellow; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white, quills margined with greyish-white, as are the tail-feathers, of which the greater part of the outer three, and a patch on the inner web of the fourth, are white. Female with the upper parts similar, but with less yellow on the forehead; ear-coverts greenish; the yellow band over the eye less bright, the yellow on the sides of the neck of less extent; the lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides streaked with dusky.
Male, 410/12, wing, 21/2. Female, 41/2, wing, 25½/12.
From Texas to Newfoundland. Abundant. Migratory.
Black-throated Green Warbler, Sylvia virens, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 127.
Sylvia virens, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.
Black-throated Green Warbler, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 376.
Black-throated Green Warbler, Sylvia virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 70.
Plate CCCCXIV. Male and Female.
Wings pointed, first quill longest, the second a quarter of a twelfth shorter, the third a twelfth shorter; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head and fore part of the back yellowish-olive, streaked with black; the rump, throat, and a collar scarcely meeting behind, yellow; ear-coverts and a band over the eye yellowish-red, loral space paler; a white patch on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts and the outer edges of the secondary coverts; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown, edged with dull greyish-white, the secondaries more broadly; tail-feathers edged with yellow at the base, the outer three with a white patch on the inner web near the end; lower parts yellow, streaked with black, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white, the latter tinged with yellow. Female similar to the male, with the tints duller, the dusky streaks on the upper parts very faint, the rump greenish-yellow, the ear-coverts dull yellow, the white of the abdomen more extended, and the black streaks on the breast less distinct.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
New Jersey, and Blue Mountains of Vermont. Exceedingly rare.
Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 99.
Sylvia maritima, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 156.
Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 156.
Plate XLVIII. Males. Plate XLIX. Young Male.
Wings long, with the outer three quills nearly equal, the first and second longest; tail slightly emarginate, upper parts of a fine light blue, brighter on the head, the back marked with longitudinal streaks of blackish; a narrow band of black from the forehead along the lore to behind the eye; two conspicuous white bands on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; quills black, margined with pale blue; tail-feathers black, edged with blue, all with a white patch on the inner web near the end; lower parts white, with a band of dark bluish-grey across the fore neck, and oblong spots of the same along the sides. Female with the upper parts light bluish-green, the lower and a streak over the eye very pale yellow. Young of both sexes like the female.
Male, 41/2, 8.
From Texas to Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Rather common. Migratory.
Cœrulean Warbler, Sylvia cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 141. Male.
Blue-green Warbler, Sylvia rara, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 119. Young.
Sylvia azurea, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.
Sylvia rara, Bonap. Syn. p. 82.
Cœrulean Warbler, Sylvia azurea, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 27. Female.
Azure Warbler, Sylvia azurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 255, Male; v. v. p. 456.
Blue-green Warbler, Sylvia rara, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 258. Young Male.
Plate CXXXV. Male. Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 3. Female.
Outer three quills nearly equal, first generally longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male black above, streaked with white; a small patch on the top of the head, a band from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, passing down the neck and curving forwards, and a small band under the eye, orange-yellow; lore and a patch behind the eye black; quills black, the outer margined with grey, the inner with white, of which there is a large patch on the wing, including the inner secondary coverts, and the tips of the outer, with those of the first row of small coverts; three outer tail-feathers on each side white, excepting an oblong portion toward the end, the next also partially white; throat and fore part of breast rich reddish-orange; breast dull yellow, the rest white; the sides of the neck and body streaked with black. Female with the upper parts light olivaceous, each feather dusky in the centre, the other parts as in the male, but the tints much paler, the spot on the top of the head greenish-yellow, the feathers tipped with dusky, the band over the eye pale yellow, that on the lore and ear-coverts brown, the fore part of the neck yellow, and the sides less strongly streaked than black.
Male, 43/4, 73/4. Female, 48/12, wing 27½/12.
From Texas northward. Rather rare. Migratory.
Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 67.
Sylvia Blackburniæ, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.
Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 379.
Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 208; v. v. p. 78.
Plate XCV. Male. Plate XXXV. Young Male and Female.
Outer four quills nearly equal, second longest; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts pale yellowish-green, the rump greenish-yellow, the fore part of the head, cheeks, throat, sides of the neck and lower parts pure yellow, the breast and sides streaked with brownish-red; feathers of the wings deep brown, primaries margined with yellowish-green, secondaries, their coverts, and the first row of small coverts with yellow; tail-feathers brown, with the greater part of the inner webs and a portion of the outer yellow, excepting the middle two. Female similar, but with the colours less bright, and the streaks on the breast and sides obsolete. Young with the upper parts yellowish-green, tinged with brown, forehead, sides of head, and lower parts deep yellow.
Male, 43/4, 8.
From Texas northward, and throughout the interior. Abundant. Migratory.
Blue-eyed Warbler, Sylvia citrinella, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 111.
Sylvia æstiva, Bonap. Syn. p. 83.
Yellow-poll Warbler, Sylvia æstiva, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 476. Adult Male.
Children's Warbler, Sylvia Childrenii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 180. Young.
Plate LXV. Male and Female.
Wings of ordinary length, the second quill longest; tail nearly even. The general colour of the plumage bright yellow, the upper parts olivaceous; quills and tail wood-brown, the former yellow on the outer web, the latter margined externally with the same. Female similar.
Male, 41/2.
Mississippi. Only one pair seen.
Rathbone Warbler, Sylvia Rathbonia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 333.
Plate CLXIII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Young Male.
Plate CLXIV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Wings of ordinary length, with the outer three quills almost equal, the second longer than the first, which slightly exceeds the fourth; tail emarginate. Male with the crown of the head deep brownish-red, the upper parts yellowish-olive, streaked with brown, the rump greenish-yellow, without streaks; quills dusky brown, primaries edged with whitish, secondaries with yellowish; tail feathers dusky brown, margined with greenish-yellow, the outer two with a white patch on the inner web at the end, sometimes the outer white on both webs at the end; a bright yellow streak from the nostril over the eye; lore dusky; ear-coverts brownish-red; lower parts yellow, the sides of the neck, its lower part, and the sides of the body, streaked with deep red. Female similar to the male, but with the tints duller and paler, the red of the head scarcely apparent, and the fore-neck very faintly streaked. Young dull light greenish-brown, tinged with grey, the head streaked with dusky; lower parts yellowish-grey, the sides of the neck and body, with the breast, faintly streaked with greyish-brown.
Male, 41/2, 81/2.
From Texas northward. Very abundant. Spends the winter in all the Southern States.
Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 19.
Sylvia petechia, Bonap. Syn. p. 83; S. palmarium, p. 78.
Sylvicola petechia, Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Swain. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 215.
Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 364.
Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 259, Adult Male and Young; p. 360, Adult Male and Female.
Plate XV. Male and Female.
Bill much attenuated; outer three quills nearly equal, first or second longest; tail almost even, with the feathers pointed. Male with the upper parts light blue, the fore part of the back yellowish-green; two broad bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with blue; a white spot on the outer three of the latter; loral space black; both eyelids with a white spot; throat yellow, with whitish patches, a lunular band of blackish on the fore neck; breast yellow, spotted with dull orange, the rest of the lower parts yellowish, fading into white, the sides pale greyish-blue. Female similar but paler; the loral band wanting; throat, fore neck, and breast yellow, without the black lunule.
Although the bill of this species is much attenuated, it is not essentially different in form from that of S. Blackburniæ, and others of this genus; the wings are similar to those of the rest, and there seems no reason for setting it apart to form a genus, as has been done by Bonaparte.
Male, 41/6, 61/2.
From Texas, generally distributed. Exceedingly abundant. Migratory.
Blue Yellow-back Warbler, Sylvia pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 17.
Sylvia Americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 33.
Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, Sylvia Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 78.
Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 1. Male.
Wings of moderate length, rather pointed, with the second and third quills longest, the first and second nearly equal and very little shorter; tail scarcely emarginate. Upper parts light greenish-olive, more yellow behind, all the feathers dusky in the centre; cheeks, ear-coverts, and throat black; a band over the eye, a broader band on the side of the neck, and the fore part of the breast bright yellow; the rest of the lower parts white, but the sides marked with oblong dusky spots; wings blackish-brown; the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white, the quills margined with light grey; tail-feathers blackish-brown, edged with grey; outer two on each side almost entirely white, the next with a small white spot.
Male, 410/12, wing 28/12.
Columbia River, northward. Migratory.
Sylvia Townsendi, Townsend's Warbler, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 191.
Townsend's Warbler, Sylvia Townsendi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 36.
Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.
Wings of moderate length, the outer three quills almost equal, the third longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish-grey, spotted with black; the upper part of the head, which is similarly spotted, the cheeks, and sides of the neck, bright yellow; throat black; breast and abdomen white; ground and tail-feathers greyish-dusky; two white bands on the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; two outer tail-feathers on each side almost entirely white. Female with the upper parts of a duller grey, the yellow of the head less extended and not so bright; throat whitish, spotted with dusky.
Male, 35/12, wing 28/12.
Columbia River. Migratory.
Sylvicola occidentalis, Hermit Wood-Warbler, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.
Hermit Warbler, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 55.
Plate CCCXCV. Figs. 5 and 6. Male.
Wings of moderate length, with the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest, the first shorter than the fourth; tail slightly rounded and emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, the middle of the back and tail-coverts streaked with black; the upper part of the head and neck, the loral space and cheeks, and the fore part of the neck, with a small portion of the breast black; a band from the nostril to near the eye yellow; a band over the eye, and another from the lower mandible along the side of the neck white; breast and abdomen white, the sides tinged with grey, and streaked with black; wings blackish-brown, with two white bands formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; quills edged with light grey; tail blackish-brown, the two outer feathers on each side almost entirely white, the next with a white patch on the inner web.
Male, 5, wing 28/12.
Columbia River. Migratory.
Sylvia nigrescens, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 191.
Black-throated Grey Warbler, Sylvia nigrescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 57.
Plate CLV. Male. Plate CXLVIII. Female and Young.
Wings rather long, with the third quill longest, the second almost equal, the fourth longer than the first; tail even. Male dull light blue above, white beneath; frontal band, cheeks, throat, and sides, black; a white patch on the wing formed by the bases of the primaries; outer three tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web near the end, all the rest with a touch of the same. Female greenish-olive above, light dull-yellow below, with a less extended white patch on the wing, the white on the tail unconspicuous. Young similar to the female.
Male, 5, 71/2.
From Texas northward. Migratory. Abundant.
Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 334.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 115. Male.
Sylvia canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 84. Male.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 398. Male.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 309. Male.
Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 100. Young.
Sylvia sphagnosa, Bonap. Syn. p. 85. Young.
Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia sphagnosa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 406. Young.
Pine-swamp Warbler, Sylvia sphagnosa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 279. Female and Young.
Plate CXXIII. Male and Female. Plate L. Young.
Wings of moderate length, the outer four quills nearly equal, the second and third longest and equal, the fourth longer than the first; tail almost even. Upper part of head and hind neck ash-grey; eyelids, and a band over the eye, white; part of forehead, loral space, and a broad band down the side of the neck, with the fore part of the back, and upper tail-coverts deep black; lower parts and rump bright yellow; the lower part of the throat, the breast and sides, spotted with black; wings and tail-feathers brownish-black, edged with grey; two white bands on the wing; all the tail-feathers, except the middle two, with a large patch of white on the inner web, at about two-thirds of their length. Young yellowish-grey above, with the head light grey, the rump yellow; lower parts of a duller yellow, with only faint dusky streaks on the sides.
Male, 5, 71/2.
From Texas northward. Very abundant. Migratory.
Black-and-Yellow Warbler, Sylvia magnolia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 63. Adult.
Sylvia maculosa, Bonap. Syn. p. 78.
Black-and-Yellow Warbler, Sylvia maculosa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 370.
Sylvicola maculosa, Yellow-rump Warbler, F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 213.
Black-and-Yellow Warbler, Sylvia maculosa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 145, Adult; v. i. p. 260, Young; v. v. p. 458.
Plate XIV. Male and Female.
Wings rather short, with the outer four quills nearly equal, the second and third longest; tail emarginate and rounded. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, the back spotted with chestnut-red; lower parts, and a band over the eye, bright yellow; two bands of dull yellow on the wing; outer four tail-feathers with a white patch on the inner web; a small streak before and behind the eye, one on the cheek, a spot on the side of the neck, and oblong markings on the sides, black. Female similar, but paler, especially beneath, and without the black streaks on the side of the head.
Male, 5, 7.
From Texas to Massachusetts. Migratory. Abundant.
Prairie Warbler, Sylvia minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 87.
Sylvia discolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 83.
Prairie Warbler, Sylvia discolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 294.
Prairie Warbler, Sylvia discolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 76.
Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 3. Male.
No bristles at the base of the bill; wings rather short, the third and fourth quills longest; tail much rounded. Upper parts light greenish-olive; a band across the forehead, one over the eye, the cheeks, throat, fore part and sides of neck bright yellow; the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white, the sides marked with narrow longitudinal dusky streaks; wings dusky brown, all the feathers edged with yellowish-white, the secondary quills more broadly, the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts tipped with white, forming two conspicuous bands; tail brownish-black, the feathers edged with yellowish-green, the two outer on each side white in their terminal half.
Male, 41/12, wing 26/12.
Blue Mountains. Only one individual seen.
Blue-Mountain Warbler, Sylvia montana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 113.
Sylvia tigrina, Bonap. Syn. p. 83; but not of Gmelin or Latham, as the figure of Edwards, to which reference is made, has the tail not rounded, but emarginate.
Plate CXXXVIII. Male and Female.
Wings long, with the first quill longest, and exceeding the first secondary by eleven-twelfths of an inch; middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus; tail of moderate length, nearly even, with acuminate feathers. Male olive-green above; a ring of yellowish-white round the eye; the head, neck all round, and part of the breast ash-grey, the sides greyish-green; the rest of the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast tinged with brown.
Male, 53/4, 8.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Very rare. Migratory.
Connecticut Warbler, Sylvia agilis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 64.
Sylvia agilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 84.
Connecticut Warbler, Sylvia agilis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 399.
This species forms a connecting link between Sylvicola and Trichas, having the long pointed wings of the former, and the general appearance of the latter, which it resembles, especially in its tail, which is neither emarginate, nor marked with the white spots seen on that of almost all the other Sylvicolæ, but which do not exist in the genus Trichas. Some of the Sylvicolæ are, in like manner, assimilated to Myiodoctes, and others to Vermivora. Of the former may be mentioned, Sylvicola Auduboni and S. coronata; of the latter, S. Blackburniæ.
Bill of moderate length, similar in form to that of Sylvicola, differing only in being a little decurved. The general form does not differ materially from that of Sylvicola, the head being ovate and of moderate size, the neck short, the body rather slender; the feet of moderate length, slender; tarsus slender, much compressed, longer than the middle toe with its claw, anteriorly covered with eight scutella, of which the upper are blended; toes of moderate size, hind toe proportionally large, lateral toes equal, fourth adherent at the base; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather short, convex, considerably rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the fifth little shorter. Tail of moderate length, rounded, always plain, or without white spots.
Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Wings rather short, the second quill longest, the fourth longer than the first, the tail long, considerably rounded, its feathers rounded; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. Male olive-green above; the head, hind part, and sides of the neck bluish-grey; the fore neck and part of the breast greyish-black, lunulated with greyish-white; a black loral band; a conspicuous white spot on each eyelid; the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast ash-grey.
Male, 51/4, 61/2. Female, 5, wing 24½/12.
Columbia River. Common.
Macgillivray's Warbler, Sylvia Macgillivrayi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 75.
Wings of moderate length, with the second quill longest, the fourth shorter than the first; the tail long, considerably rounded, its feathers scarcely pointed; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. Male olive-green above, the head, hind part and sides of the neck, bluish-grey; the fore neck and part of the breast deep black, lunulated with white; a blackish loral band, margins of eyelids dusky grey; the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast ash-grey, the throat yellowish-white.
Male, 5, 8.
New Jersey and Blue Mountains of Vermont. Rare. Migratory.
Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 101.
Sylvia Philadelphia, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.
Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 404.
Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 79.
Plate XXIII. Male and Female. Plate XXIV. Young Male.
Wings rather short, with the third and fourth quills longest, fifth longer than second, first and sixth equal; tail considerably rounded, the lateral feathers being three-twelfths shorter than the middle. Male with a broad band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating in a rather pointed form behind the ear-coverts; over this band a narrow one of very pale blue, or bluish-white; upper parts yellowish-green, on the head slightly tinged with red; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown, margined with yellowish-green; the edge of the wing and the margin of the outer primary yellow; fore part of neck bright yellow, as is the anterior part of the breast and the lower tail-coverts, the rest pale, the sides shaded with dull yellowish-brown; the axillaries and some of the lower wing-coverts white. Female with the upper parts lighter, the lower less bright, tinged with reddish-brown, the head of pale brownish-red, without the bands so conspicuous in the male. Young similar to the female, the males with a black mystachial band.
Male, 43/4, 61/2.
From Texas northward to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior; Columbia River.
Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia Marilandica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 88, Male; v. ii. p. 163, Female.
Sylvia Marilandica, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.
Maryland Yellow-throat, Nutt. Man. v. i.
Yellow-breasted Warbler, or Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia Trichas, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 121, Adult; v. v. p. 463.
Roscoe's Yellow-throat, Sylvia Roscoe, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 124. Young.
Wing rather long, much rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest, sixth longer than second, first and tenth about equal; tail much rounded, the lateral feathers being half an inch shorter than the middle. Male with a band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating on the ear-coverts; upper part of head light greyish-blue, tinged behind with green; the rest of the upper parts dull yellowish-green; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown on the inner webs, the edge of the wing and margin of the outer primary yellow; all the lower parts rich yellow, excepting the sides, which are shaded into dull greenish-yellow.
Male, 51/4, wing, 25/12.
North California.
Delafield's Yellow-throat, Sylvia Delafieldii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 307.
Bill rather long, being nearly of the same length as the head, straight, or slightly decurved, tapering to a very acute point, much compressed; the upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the sides declinate and flat at the base, the edges somewhat inflected beyond the middle, the notch obsolete; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the edges involute, the tip extremely acute. Nostrils oblong; exposed. Feet of moderate length; tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw, slender, much compressed, with the upper scutella blended; toes slender; claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute, plumage soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather long, somewhat pointed, the outer three nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. – Name from [Greek: Helos], a swamp, and [Greek: Naiô], to inhabit.
Plate CXCVIII. Male.
Bill as long as the head, much compressed; wings rather long, second and third quills equal and longest; tail even; upper parts olive-brown, the head strongly tinged with red; lower parts and a band over the eye pale yellowish-grey, the feathers on the cheeks tipped with brown, the sides of the neck and body more grey, the abdomen whitish.
Male, 51/4, 81/2.
South Carolina to Massachusetts. Very rare. Migratory.
Swainson's Warbler, Sylvia Swainsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 568; v. v. p. 462.
Plate XXXIV. Male and Female.
Bill nearly as long as the head, less compressed than in the last; wings rather long, second quill longest, first and third equal; tail very slightly rounded. Upper parts light olive-green; head and lower parts pale brownish-yellow, the former with four longitudinal black bands; throat and abdomen nearly white.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
From Texas northwards, and in the interior to the Missouri. Not very abundant. Migratory.
Worm-eating Warbler, Sylvia vermivora, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 74.
Sylvia vermivora, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.
Worm-eating Warbler, Sylvia vermivora, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 177; v. v. p. 460.
Plate III. Male and Female.
Bill nearly as long as the head; first quill longest; tail even. Male with the head, neck, breast, and sides rich yellow, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; hind neck and fore part of back greenish-yellow, rump, tail-coverts, smaller wing-coverts and margin of the quills and tail-feathers light greyish-blue; the latter, except the middle, having the greater part of their inner webs white.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
From Texas eastward to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Saskatchewan. Rather rare. Migratory.
Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 72.
Sylvia Protonotarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.
Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, v. i. p. 410.
Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 22; v. v. p. 460.
Plate CCCCXIV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Bill slightly shorter than the head, tapering to an acute point; wings with the second and third quills equal and longest, the fourth and first about equal; tail even. Male light ash-grey above, greyish-white beneath; upper part of head, and a patch on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts, bright yellow; a band from the bill to the eye, continued under it, and including the ear-coverts, black, as is the throat; a white band from the upper mandible over the eye, and another from the lower mandible down the neck. Female with the tints less bright, the back tinged with green, the side of the head and the throat grey, and the white bands on the head narrower and less extended.
Male, 51/4, 75/8. Female, 5, 71/4.
From Texas to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Rather rare. Migratory.
Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 113.
Sylvia chrysoptera, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.
Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 411.
Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 154.
Plate CLXXXV. Male and Female.
Bill nearly as long as the head, slightly decurved, much attenuated; outer four quills nearly equal, second longest, tail even. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, the feathers of the crown black, with greyish margin; the hind neck grey; forehead, a line over the eye, cheeks, chin, sides of neck, flexure of wing, lower wing-coverts, and breast, yellow; sides greenish-grey, lower tail-coverts white; a patch of black, enlarging beneath, on the fore neck; quills and tail greyish-brown; a patch of white on each of the tail-feathers, excepting the middle. Female with the tints fainter, the forehead yellowish-green, the fore neck dusky.
Male, 41/12, 61/4. Female, 310/12.
South Carolina. Rare. Migratory.
Bachman's Warbler, Sylvia Bachmanii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 483.
Plate LX. Male.
Bill shorter than the head, straight, very acute; wing with the second quill longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head black; fore part of back, smaller wing-coverts, and sides dusky green, spotted with black; a line over the eye, the sides of the neck, throat, the rest of the lower parts, and the rump yellow.
Male, 43/4.
Kentucky. Only two specimens procured. Migratory.
Carbonated Warbler, Sylvia carbonata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 308.
Plate CLIV. Male.
Bill shorter than the head, straight, very acute; wing with the second and third quills longest; tail nearly even. Upper parts yellowish-olive, the head darker; lower parts cream-coloured, fading behind into white; a pale yellow line over the eye; quills and tail-feathers dusky, the primaries margined with whitish, the secondaries with greenish-yellow.
Male, 41/2, 8.
Florida to New York, and in the interior to Kentucky. Rare. Migratory.
Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 83.
Sylvia peregrina, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.
Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 412.
Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 307.
Plate XX. Male and Female.
Bill shorter than the head, straightish, very acute; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail nearly even. Forehead, crown, and lower parts bright yellow; hind part of the head, neck, and back light green, rump greenish-yellow; lore black; wings and tail greyish-blue, the feathers margined with greyish-white; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts; tail-feathers, except the middle, with a patch of white on the inner web. Young with the upper parts, including the forehead, yellowish-green, the lower pale greenish-yellow.
Male, 43/4, 7.
From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior, to Kentucky. Rather rare. Migratory.
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 109.
Sylvia solitaria, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Sylvia solitaria, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 410.
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Sylvia solitaria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 102.
Plate CLXXVIII. Male and Female.
Bill shorter than the head, very much attenuated; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail even. Male with the upper parts dull green, the rump yellowish-green; a patch of dull reddish-orange on the crown, concealed by the grey tips of the feathers; lower parts dull olivaceous yellow; lower tail-coverts light yellow; quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, edged with yellowish-green. Female similar, with the orange on the crown duller. Young with the lower parts paler, and without red on the head.
This species and the next seem to form the transition from the Sylvicolinæ to the Reguli, as Mniotilta varia does to the Certhiæ.
Male, 51/2, 711/12.
In summer from Texas to Nova Scotia. Winters in the southern states. Columbia River. Rather common.
Sylvia celata, Say, Long's Exped. v. i. p. 169.
Sylvia celata, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.
Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 45.
Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 413.
Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 449.
Plate LXXXIX. Male and Female.
Bill shorter than the head, very much attenuated; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail slightly emarginate. Upper part of the head, cheeks, hind part and sides of neck light bluish-grey; a patch of dull red on the crown, concealed by the grey tips of the feathers; upper parts of the body yellowish-green, lower parts greenish-yellow; quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, edged with yellowish-green, the primaries with greyish-white. Female similar but paler, and with faint indications of red on some of the feathers on the crown. Young similar to the female.
Male, 41/2, 7.
Texas to Massachusetts. Inland to Kentucky. Columbia River. Rare. Migratory.
Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla. Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 120.
Sylvia rubricapilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.
Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 412.
Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 450.
Bill rather long, straight, very slender, nearly as broad as high at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the edges a little inflected toward the end, the notches obsolete, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip attenuated. General form slender. Feet of moderate length, very slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, much compressed, the upper scutella blended; toes rather long, extremely compressed, the first very long, the second shorter than the third, which is adherent at the base, claws rather long, well arched, extremely compressed, and acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings long, with the second and third quills longest and about equal, the first slightly shorter, and exceeding the fourth. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. This genus connects the Sylvicolinæ with the Certhianæ.
Plate XC. Male.
Male with the plumage white, variegated with glossy black, longitudinally disposed; a band along the middle of the head and hind neck, a streak over the eyes, a band along the sides of the neck, two bars on the wings, the middle of the breast and abdomen, with a patch at the end of the outer two tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts similar, but with the black less deep, the lower parts greyish-white, the sides and lower tail-coverts marked with black. Young light brownish-grey above, paler beneath, with the abdomen white.
Male, 51/2, 71/2.
Generally distributed. Migratory.
Black-and-white Creeper, Certhia varia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 23.
Sylvia varia, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.
Black-and-white Creeper, Certhia varia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 452; v. v. p. 471.
Bill of moderate length or rather long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex or arched, the ridge narrow, the notches slight or obsolete, lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Head moderate, ovate; neck short, body slender. Feet of moderate length, or rather short; tarsus about the same length as the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior scutella, toes of moderate length, much compressed, hind toe proportionally long, outer adherent at the base; claws rather long, extremely compressed, arched, acute. Wings short or of moderate length. Tail of twelve feathers, generally much rounded. Tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, very narrow, tapering to a lacerated point. Œsophagus of moderate width, without crop; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach of moderate size, oblong, or elliptical, moderately muscular, with the muscles distinct; epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short, rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
Bill about the same length as the head, very slender, arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping at the base, nearly erect in the rest of their extent, the edges sharp, arched, without notch, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the outline decurved, the sides erect and convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Nostrils linear-oblong, operculate. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Feet rather short, very slender, tarsus rather shorter than the middle toe, very slender, much compressed; toes extremely compressed; the first comparatively large, longer than the middle toe, including the claw; the inner toe shorter than the outer; claws long, moderately arched, slender, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long. Plumage long, loose, very soft. Bristles obsolete. Wings of moderate length, very broad; the first quill very short, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail long, graduated, of twelve moderately stiff pointed feathers.
Plate CCCCXV. Male and Female.
Upper parts reddish-brown, the head darker, the rump light brownish-red; all the feathers with a central dull whitish streak; wings deep brown, the coverts tipped, the secondaries barred at the base with dull yellow, of which a broad band, in the midst of a brownish-black space, crosses both webs of the quills, excepting the inner webs of the outer four, and the outer webs of the outer three; most of the quills also with a greyish-yellow patch along the outer web toward the tip, which is dull white; tail-feathers yellowish-brown; with shafts of a lighter tint, the webs darker toward the end; a silvery white band over the eye; cheeks dark brown; lower parts silvery white, sides tinged with brown.
Male, 51/2, 81/2.
From Louisiana to Maryland, and in the interior to Kentucky, during winter. From Pennsylvania eastward to Nova Scotia, in summer, breeding in all the intermediate parts. Common.
Brown Creeper, Certhia familiaris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 122.
Certhia familiaris, Bonap. Syn. p. 280.
Brown Creeper, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 585.
Brown Creeper, Certhia familiaris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 158.
Bill of moderate length, or nearly as long as the head, slender, slightly arched, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges a little inflected toward the end, the notches slight, the tip rather acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the outline slightly decurved, the sides erect and convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Nostrils oblong, operculate, exposed. Head oblong; neck short; body slender. Feet of ordinary length, rather strong; tarsus longer than the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior distinct scutella; toes of moderate size, the third and fourth united at the base, the first very large, the lateral nearly equal; claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings of moderate length, or short, convex, much rounded; the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail rather short, rounded, of twelve slightly arched, weak, rounded feathers.
Plate CCCLX. Fig. 4. Female.
Upper parts dull yellowish-brown, and, excepting the rump, barred with greyish-brown; wings similarly barred, excepting the primaries; secondary coverts with a small white spot near the tip; tail-coverts and two middle tail-feathers barred with dusky; the rest broadly tipped with pale yellowish-red, undulated with dusky, behind which is a broad band of brownish-black, the remaining or basal part banded like the central feathers, the outer with four reddish-white spots or bars on the outer web, the intervals being brownish-black, and a spot of white on the inner web; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with sienna, the sides inclining to yellowish-red; lower tail-coverts barred with dusky.
Female, 6, wing 211/12.
Rocky Mountains and Columbia River. Abundant. Migratory.
Troglodytes obsoleta, Say, Long's Exped.
Troglodytes obsoleta, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 6.
Rocky Mountain Wren, Troglodytes obsoleta, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 435.
Rock Wren, Troglodytes obsoletus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 443.
Plate LXXVIII. Male and Female.
Bill stouter than in the last, nearly as long as the head; wing with the fourth and fifth quills longest; tail much rounded; upper parts brownish-red; a yellowish-white streak over the eye, extending far down the neck, and edged above with dark brown; a broader band of reddish-brown behind the eye; quills, coverts, and tail barred with blackish-brown; secondary and first row of small coverts tipped with white, shafts of the latter also white; throat greyish-white, lower parts light reddish-buff, deeper behind; lower tail-coverts white, barred with black. Female lighter above, tinged with grey beneath, without white on the wing-coverts.
Male, 51/2, 71/2.
From Texas to New York, along the Atlantic coast. In the interior to the Missouri, and up the Ohio to Pittsburgh. Resident in the Southern States. Abundant.
Great Carolina Wren, Certhia Caroliniana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 61.
Troglodytes ludovicianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 93.
Great Carolina Mocking Wren, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 429.
Great Carolina Wren, Troglodytes ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 399; v. v. p. 466.
Plate XVIII. Male.
Bill more slender than that of the last, nearly as long as the head, slightly arched; wing very short, with the fifth quill longest, but little exceeding the fourth and sixth; tail rather long, graduated. Upper parts dusky brown tinged with grey; lower greyish-white, the sides tinged with brown; a band of yellowish-white from the upper mandible over the eye to half-way down the neck; quills and wing-coverts barred with dusky, as are the tail-coverts and two middle tail-feathers; outer web of the lateral tail-feathers, and the terminal portions of the others whitish, barred with black, their middle parts black, toward the base barred with reddish-brown.
Male, 5, 61/2.
From Louisiana to Columbia River on the one hand, and to Pennsylvania on the other, principally on high grounds. Not very common. Migratory.
Bewick's Wren, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 434.
Bewick's Wren, Troglodytes Bewickii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 96; v. v. p. 467.
Plate CLXXIX. Male.
Bill of moderate length, nearly straight; wings short, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills almost equal, the fourth longest; tail rather long, much rounded. Upper parts dark reddish-brown, duller and tinged with grey on the head, indistinctly barred with dusky; lower parts brownish-grey, faintly barred on the fore neck, breast, and sides, the abdomen and lower tail-coverts distinctly barred; feathers of the cheeks light grey tipped with brown, wings and tail undulatingly banded with blackish-brown.
Male, 47/8, 63/4.
Northern parts of Vermont and Maine, during summer. Winters in South Carolina. Not very rare.
Wood-Wren, Troglodytes Americana. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 452; v. v. p. 469.
Plate LXXXIII. Male, Female, and Young.
Bill of moderate length, nearly straight, a little stouter than that of the last; wings short, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills almost equal, the fourth longest; tail rather short, much rounded. Upper parts dull reddish-brown, darker on the head, brighter on the tail-coverts, indistinctly barred with dusky; lower parts brownish-grey, faintly barred on the fore neck and breast, the sides, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts distinctly barred; feathers of the cheeks grey, tipped with brown; wings and tail undulatingly banded with blackish-brown. This species differs from the last in being considerably smaller, in having the bill shorter and stouter, the lower parts more tinged with brown; but the colouring of the two is extremely similar.
Male, 41/2, 51/2.
From Maryland to Nova Scotia, and across the continent to the Columbia River. Very abundant. Migratory.
House Wren, Sylvia domestica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 129.
Troglodytes ædon, Bonap. Syn. p. 92.
House Wren, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 422.
Troglodytes ædon, House Wren, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 316.
House Wren, Troglodytes ædon, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 427; v. v. p. 470.
Plate CCCLX. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Fig. 3. Young.
Bill of moderate length, nearly straight; wings shortish, with the fourth quill longest; tail short, much rounded. Upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, darker on the head, brighter on the tail-coverts, quills, and tail; lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and greyish-white; fore neck and breast more faintly barred; lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky, lower tail-coverts brownish-red, barred with dusky, and having the tip white; a whitish streak over the eye; cheeks brown, spotted with brownish-white; secondary coverts, and first small coverts, each with a white spot at the tip, forming two inconspicuous bands; wing-coverts and quills banded with blackish-brown and brownish-red; tail with twelve dusky bands.
This species is very nearly allied to Troglodytes Europæus.
Male, 37/8, 61½/12. Female, 35/8, 53/8.
Generally distributed in the middle and southern districts during winter. Breeds from Pennsylvania northwards to Hudson's Bay. Columbia River.
Winter-Wren, Sylvia Troglodytes, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 139.
Troglodytes europæus, Bonap. Syn. p. 93.
Troglodytes hyemalis, Winter Wren, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 318.
Winter-Wren, Troglodytes hyemalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 427.
Winter-Wren, Troglodytes hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 430.
Bill rather long, slightly arched (much longer, stouter, and more curved than that of the last species); wings of moderate length, with the fourth quill longest; tail rather long, much rounded, (half an inch longer, and more rounded). Upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky; lower parts dull brownish-white, sides barred with brownish-black and greyish-white, fore neck and breast with scarcely any markings, lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, obscurely barred with dusky.
Length, 42/12, wing 21/4.
Columbia River. Not very rare.
Parkman's Wren, Troglodytes Parkmanii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 310.
Plate C. Male and Female.
Bill rather long, slightly arched; wings short, with the fourth quill longest. Upper parts dark brown, the sides of the head deeper, the fore part of the back brownish-black, longitudinally and conspicuously streaked with white, the quills externally margined with lighter brown, the tail barred with dark brown; a white line over the eye, extending down the neck; the sides of the latter mottled with light brown and grey; the lower parts of a silvery greyish-white; abdominal feathers and lower tail-coverts tipped with brown. Female differs only in having the black of the back of a less deep tint, the white lines less conspicuous, and the lower parts of a duller white.
Male, 5, 61/4.
Breeds from Texas to Massachusetts, along all the shores of the Atlantic. Resident in Louisiana. Occurs accidentally far in the interior.
Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes palustris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 58.
Troglodytes palustris, Bonap. Syn. p. 93.
Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes palustris, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 439.
Troglodytes palustris, Marsh Wren, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 319.
Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes palustris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 500; v. v. p. 467.
Plate CLXXV. Male and Female.
Bill comparatively very short, nearly straight; wings short, very convex, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills almost equal. Upper parts blackish-brown, each feather with a brownish-white line along the shaft, and the outer edge toward the end reddish-brown; quills dusky, the outer webs barred with pale yellowish-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail similarly barred; a pale yellowish streak over the eye; throat and central part of the breast greyish-white, the rest of the lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides under the wings faintly barred with dusky.
Male, 43/8, 55/8.
Resident during winter from Texas to South Carolina. In spring proceeds as far eastward as Massachusetts, breeding in all the fresh-water marshes.
Short-billed Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes brevirostris, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 436.
Nuttall's Short-billed Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes brevirostris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 427; v. v. p. 469.
Bill very short or of moderate length, straight, strong, compressed, rather sharp; both mandibles with the dorsal line sloping and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp; notches obsolete. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head rather large, roundish; neck short; body short, and rather full. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus rather short, compressed, with eight distinct scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint, the hind toe much stronger and flattened beneath; claws rather long, stout, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage very soft, blended, and full. Feathers at the base of the bill directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, with the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail rather long, slender, of twelve narrow rounded feathers. Tongue emarginate and papillate at the base, abrupt at the tip, with four bristles. Œsophagus narrow, without dilatation; proventriculus oblong; stomach a rather strong oblong gizzard, with the muscles distinct, the epithelium dense, thin, longitudinally rugous; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
Bill short, stout; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly decurved toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a slight lobe or festoon near the base, destitute of notch, rather acute; lower mandible with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the edges direct, the tip rather acute. Nostrils roundish, covered by bristly feathers. Head rather large, roundish; neck short. Feet proportionally large; tarsus of moderate length; hind toe very large and strong, the two lateral nearly equal, the outer adherent at the base; claws large, much compressed, very acute. Wings of moderate length, convex. Tail long, or of moderate length, rounded or graduated, of twelve rather narrow feathers.
Plate XXXIX. Male and Female.
Bill very stout; feathers of the upper part of the head elongated into a crest; tail long, slightly rounded; upper parts leaden-blue, forehead black, lower parts greyish-white, the sides light red.
Male, 61/2, 9.
From Texas, where it breeds, to the Fur Countries, generally distributed eastward of the Rocky Mountains. Resident in the middle, southern, and western districts. Abundant.
Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 187.
Parus bicolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.
Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 236.
Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 199; v. v. p. 472.
Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.
Bill moderately stout; tail long, emarginate, and rounded. Upper part of the head and hind neck, with a large patch on the fore neck, black; cheeks and sides of the neck white; back yellowish-grey; quills and tail-feathers dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white; the secondaries broadly edged with white; lower parts pale yellowish-red, the breast white.
Male, 51/8, 81/4.
From Maryland eastward and northward to Lat. 65°. In Kentucky during winter. Never in the southern parts.
Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 134.
Parus atricapillus, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.
Black-capt Titmouse, Nutt. Man. p. 241.
Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 374.
Plate CLX. Male and Female.
Bill very short, moderately stout; tail rather long, emarginate, and rounded. Upper part of the head and hind neck, with a large patch on the fore neck, black; cheeks and sides of the neck greyish-white; back yellowish-grey; quills and tail-feathers dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white, secondaries not conspicuously; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with yellow. This species is very similar to the last, but much inferior in size.
Male, 41/4, 6.
Breeds from Texas to New Jersey. Rather abundant. Resident.
Carolina Titmouse, Parus Carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 341; v. v. p. 474.
Plate CXCIV. Male, Female, and Young.
Bill short, moderately stout; tail long, emarginate, and considerably rounded. Upper parts dull light brown, tinged with grey; fore neck black; cheeks and sides of the neck white; breast and abdomen white, sides light yellowish-brown.
Male, 5, 7.
Northern parts of Maine, during winter. Breeds from New Brunswick to Labrador and Hudson's Bay. Common. Migratory.
Parus Hudsonicus, Lath. Ind. Orn. v. ii. p. 566.
Hudson's Bay Titmouse, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 543.
Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.
Bill moderately stout; tail rather long, emarginate, scarcely rounded; upper part of head and hind neck dark brown, fore neck of a deeper tint of the same; cheeks and sides of neck white; back, rump, and sides of the body under the wings bright chestnut; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white.
Male, 41/2, wing, 23/8.
Columbia River. Abundant. Resident.
Parus rufescens, Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.
Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Parus rufescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 371.
Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 5. Male. Fig. 6. Female.
Upper mandible with its outline more arched, the tip acute and considerably elongated; tail very long, emarginate, and much rounded; upper part of the head and hind neck pale brown; upper parts brownish-grey; wings and tail dusky, margined with greyish-white; cheeks of a paler tint than the head; all the lower parts brownish-white, the sides tinged with reddish.
Male, 41/2, wing, 110½/12.
Columbia River. Common. Migratory.
Parus minimus, Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.
Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, Parus minimus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 382.
Bill of moderate length, slender, straight, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight and declinate, convex at the end, the tip small, acute, the notches small; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval or oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, compressed; first stouter, second and fourth nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent at the base; claws moderate, arched, slender, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles short or weak. Wings of moderate length or long; the first quill very small, the second, third, and fourth longest. Tail long or of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Tongue, sagittate, slender, tapering to a slit and lacerated point. Œsophagus rather narrow, without crop; proventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, with the muscles distinct, the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
Of this family, which in Europe is so numerous, there are in North America only two genera, Regulus and Sialia, the former composed of very small birds, allied in manners to the Tits, the latter approaching the Thrushes in form. The connecting links being wanting with us, these genera might seem at first sight very dissimilar.
Bill short, straight, very slender, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible nearly straight in its dorsal outline, the edges slightly notched, the tip a little declinate, acute; lower mandible with its outline ascending, nearly straight, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, concealed by the reversed feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body short. Legs rather long; tarsus slender, longer than the middle toe, much compressed, scutella blended, excepting the lower four toes, rather small, much compressed, hind toe large; lateral equal; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage very loose and full. Short bristles at the base of the bill. Feathers of the head elongated and silky in the adults. Wings of ordinary length, with the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail of ordinary length, emarginate.
Plate LV. Male.
Upper parts dull greyish-olive; anterior part of forehead, lore, and a line behind the eye, black; a greyish-white band across the forehead over the eye; a semilunar band of black on the forehead and sides of the head, enclosing a vermilion space; wings and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white; lower parts greyish-white.
Male, 41/4, 6.
Pennsylvania. Only one specimen found.
Cuvier's Crested Wren, Regulus Cuvierii, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 416.
Cuvier's Regulus, Regulus Cuvierii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 288.
Plate CLXXXIII. Male and Female.
Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, changing to ash-grey on the neck and sides of the head, to greenish-yellow on the rump; a band of greyish-white across the anterior part of the forehead, which, at the eye, separates into two bands, one extending over, the other under the eye; above this, a broadish band of black, also margining the head on either side; the inner webs and tips of the feathers of this black band pure yellow; the crown of the head, in the included space, bright orange with silky gloss; a dusky spot at the anterior angle of the eye; an obscure dusky line from the angle of the mouth to beneath the eye; quills and coverts dusky, the former margined with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts broadly tipped with yellowish-white; base of all the quills, except the four outer yellowish-white; from the seventh primary to the innermost secondary but two, a broad bar of blackish-brown; tail dusky, the feathers edged with greenish-yellow, lower parts greyish-white. Female differs chiefly in having pale yellow substituted for the flame colour of the crown, and less grey on the hind neck. Young without coloured feathers on the head.
Male, 4, 7.
Breeds in Labrador and Newfoundland. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Columbia River.
Golden-crested Wren, Sylvia Regulus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 126.
Regulus cristatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.
American Fiery-crowned Wren, Regulus tricolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 420.
American Golden-crested Wren, Regulus tricolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 476.
Plate CXCV. Male and Female.
Upper parts greenish-olive, anteriorly tinged with grey, on the rump inclining to yellow; a patch of vermilion on the crown of the head; quills and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white, a circle of the same round the eye; lower parts greenish-white. Female similar, with the tints duller, especially the greenish-yellow of the wings. Young without the coloured patch on the crown, and more deeply tinged with yellow beneath.
Male, 41/4, 6.
Breeds in Labrador. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Abundant.
Ruby-crowned Wren, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 83.
Regulus Calendula, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.
Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia Calendula, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 415.
Ruby-crowned Regulus, Regulus Calendula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 546.
Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and slightly declinate, until near the end, when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a distinct notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval. Head rather large, ovate, neck short; body moderately full. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, its lower scutella only distinct; toes of moderate length, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third much longer; the fourth adherent at the base; claws moderate, well curved, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended; short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed; the first quill very small, second, third, and fourth longest. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve rather strong feathers.
Plate CXIII. Male, Female, and Young.
Male with the upper parts ultramarine blue, the lower parts light chestnut-red, excepting the abdomen, which is white. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, brighter behind; lower parts as in the male, but much duller. Young with the upper part of the head, hind neck, and part of the back greyish-brown, the rest as in the female, the lower parts light grey, the feathers on the breast and sides margined with brown.
Male, 7, 10. Female, 61/2.
Generally distributed from Texas to the Fur Countries. Vast numbers spend the winter in the Southern States. Columbia River. Migratory.
Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 56.
Saxicola Sialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.
Erythaca (Sialia) Wilsonii, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 210.
Blue Bird, Ampelis Sialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 444.
Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 84; v. v. p. 452.
Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Male with the upper parts and throat ultramarine blue; fore part of back, breast, and sides, light chestnut-red; rest of lower parts light blue, the abdomen whitish. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, the back tinged with brown, the wing-coverts and rump brighter; lower parts pale red, the abdomen light grey.
Male, 7; wing, 45/12. Female, 63/4.
North California, and Oregon Territory. Abundant. Migratory.
Sialia occidentalis, Western Blue Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 188.
Western Blue Bird, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 41.
Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female.
Male with the upper parts light ultramarine, with a tinge of green; sides of the head, fore neck, and sides of neck, and the anterior half of the breast, light greenish-blue, that colour gradually fading into white behind. Female with the upper parts light greyish-brown, the rump and wing-coverts blue; fore part of neck and anterior portion of the breast reddish-grey, the rest of the lower parts pale brownish-grey.
Male, 71/4; wing, 47½/12. Female, 63/4; wing, 42/12.
Columbia River, Rocky Mountains, and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.
Erythaca (Sialia) Arctica, Arctic Blue Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 209.
Arctic Blue Bird, Sialia Arctica, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 573.
Arctic Blue Bird, Sylvia Arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 38.
Bill short, or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline a little convex and declinate, the tip small, rather acute, the notches small; lower mandible with the angle rather short, of moderate width, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip acute. Head oblong, compressed, of moderate size; neck rather short; body moderate. Eyes of moderate size. External aperture of ear large and roundish. Feet of moderate strength; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather strong, compressed; first, second, and fourth, nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent to the fourth at the base; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage rather blended. Bristles small. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded; the first quill very small, third and fourth longest. Tail of twelve feathers, varying in length. Tongue sagittate, and papillate at the base, slender, tapering, its tip slit. Œsophagus rather narrow, without crop; proventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, its lateral and lower muscles distinct; the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight until toward the end, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, with an obscure notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible slightly bent upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the tip narrow and rather acute. Nostrils linear, direct, exposed. General form short, full, and compact. Head oblong, compressed. Legs strong; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided plate and four inferior scutella; toes rather large and strong; claws arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, that of the hind toe considerably larger. Plumage ordinary, rather blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail short, even.
Plate CCCLXX. Adult. Plate CCCCXXXV. Young.
Head and neck chocolate-brown, upper parts very deep bluish-grey, lower somewhat lighter, and tinged anteriorly with brown. Young with the upper parts deep bluish-grey, the head and hind neck slightly tinged with brown; lower parts lighter, the feathers margined with whitish, the throat with a slight tinge of brown.
Male, 71/2, 101/2.
Rocky Mountains. Oregon Territory. North California. Not abundant.
Cinclus Pallasii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 173.
Cinclus Americanus, American Dipper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 173.
Black Water-Ouzel or Dipper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 358.
American Dipper, Cinclus Americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 493; v. v. p. 303.
Bill of moderate length or longish, rather slender, straight or slightly arched, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the notches very slight, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved toward the end, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, partially concealed by the feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovato-oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender; tarsus scarcely so long as the middle toe and claw; hind toe of moderate length, stout, lateral toes equal; claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles rather long. Wings of ordinary length, broad, rounded, the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail very long, straight, much rounded, or graduated.
Plate XXI. Male and Female.
Upper parts light grey tinged with yellowish-brown; feathers of the wings and tail greyish-black; primary coverts white, as are the primary quills in their proximal part; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with white; outer tail-feather white, as are the greater part of the next, and a portion of the third toward the end; lower parts greyish-white, on the breast tinged with brown, on the sides and under the tail with yellow. Female smaller, with the tints duller, and the white markings on the wings less extended.
Male, 91/2, 131/2. Female, 9, 121/2.
From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior up the Mississippi and Ohio, to Henderson in Kentucky. Abundant and resident in the southern parts.
Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 14.
Turdus polyglottus, Bonap. Syn. p. 74.
Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 320.
Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 108; v. v. p. 438.
Plate CCCLXIX. Fig. 1. Male.
Upper parts greyish-brown; feathers of the wings and tail greyish-black; tips of secondary coverts, edges of primary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-feathers, white; lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; throat, middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, unspotted.
Male, 8; wing, 39/12.
Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.
Orpheus montanus, Mountain Mocking-Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 192.
Mountain Mocking Bird, Turdus montanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 487.
Plate CXXVIII. Male and Female.
Blackish-grey, lighter beneath; upper part of head black; lower tail-coverts deep red. Female with the tints duller. Lateral tail-feathers more or less banded with lighter, sometimes whitish tints.
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