A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

Male, 49/12, 8.

Passes from Texas to Connecticut; breeds from Maryland to Connecticut. Columbia River. Rather Common. Migratory.

Yellow-winged Sparrow, Fringilla passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 76.

Fringilla passerina, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Savannah Finch or Yellow shouldered Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 494.

Yellow-crowned Sparrow, Fringilla passerina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 180; v. v. p. 497.

163. 8. Emberiza Henslowii, Aud. Henslow's Bunting

Plate LXX. Male.

Bill very stout; wings short, convex, the first quill equal to the fourth, and scarcely shorter than the second and third; tail emarginate and rounded, with the feathers acute. Upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black, the margins of the feathers on the back and scapulars light red; the edge of the wing pale yellow; quills dusky, primaries edged with brownish-yellow, secondaries with light red; tail-feathers dusky, the outer margined with yellowish-brown, the middle more broadly with light red; lower parts light brownish-yellow, the abdomen and throat paler, the sides of the neck and body, and the fore part of the breast streaked with black.

Male, 5.

Winters in Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. Breeds from Maryland to New York. Abundant. Accidental in Ohio.

Henslow's Bunting, Emberiza Henslowii, Nutt. Man. App. v. ii. p.

Henslow's Bunting, Emberiza Henslowii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 360; v. v. p. 498.

* Wings considerably rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest. Tail rather long, emarginate.

164. 9. Emberiza pusilla, Wils. Field Bunting. – Field Sparrow

Plate CXXXIX. Male.

Bill light brownish-red; upper part of the head chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, and the throat pale bluish-grey; rump yellowish-grey; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with yellowish-grey, lower parts greyish-white, the sides of the neck and body, and the fore part of the breast, tinged with yellowish-brown.

Male, 6, 8.

From Texas to Maryland, in Kentucky and the intermediate parts, during winter. Breeds from Maryland to Maine. Abundant.

Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 121.

Fringilla pusilla; Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Field or Rush Sparrow, Fringilla juncorum, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 499.

Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 229.

165. 10. Emberiza socialis, Wils. Chipping Bunting. – Chipping Sparrow

Plate CIV. Male.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red, part of forehead black; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat, and fore part of the breast, pale bluish-grey; rump bluish-grey, streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with yellowish-grey; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white. This species closely resembles the last in colour, but may be distinguished by the black on the forehead, and the dusky colour of the bill.

Male, 51/4, 8.

Abundant throughout the United States. Winter resident in all the Southern States. Not seen in Texas, Nova Scotia, or Labrador.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 127.

Fringilla socialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 497.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 21; v. v. p. 517.

166. 11. Emberiza Canadensis, Lath. Canada Bunting. – Tree Sparrow

Plate CLXXXVIII. Male and Female.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown above, yellowish-red beneath; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat and fore part of the breast pale bluish-grey; rump pale yellowish-grey, faintly streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with greyish-white; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white, the latter tinged with yellowish-brown.

This species is much larger than the last, wants the black spot on the forehead, and has the wing-bands more conspicuous.

Male, 61/4, 83/4.

Rarely reaches the Carolinas during winter, or Louisville on the Ohio. Breeds from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla arborea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 12.

Fringilla canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Emberiza canadensis, Tree Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 252.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 495.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 511; v. v. p. 504.

GENUS III. NIPHÆA, Aud. SNOW-BIRD

Bill short, rather small, conical, acute; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges nearly straight, slightly inflected, but overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven scutella; toes rather strong, the first stout, the lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings rather short, curved, rounded, second, third, and fourth quills longest, first longer than fifth. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with thin ridges, and a small knob at the base; tongue narrow, deep, grooved above, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, muscular; intestine rather short; cœca very small. Name from [Greek: Niphos], snow.

167. 1. Niphæa hyemalis, Linn. Common Snow-Bird

Plate XIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head, hind neck, fore part of the breast, back, wings, and upper parts of the sides, greyish-black, deeper on the head and throat; quills margined with whitish; tail with the two lateral feathers on each side, and a patch on the inner web of the next white, as are the breast and abdomen. Female lighter grey, on the back tinged with brown.

Male, 61/4, 9.

Distributed, in winter, over the Southern, Western, and Middle Districts, as far as the base of the Rocky Mountains, and in the Fur Countries. Breeds from Maryland eastward, on the mountains. Very abundant.

Snow Bird, Fringilla nivalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 129.

Fringilla hyemalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Fringilla hyemalis, Black Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 505.

Common Snow-Bird, Fringilla Hudsonia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 491.

Snow-Bird, Fringilla hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 72; v. v. p. 505.

168. 2. Niphæa Oregona, Towns. Oregon Snow-Bird

Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Male with the head, neck all round, and a portion of the breast black; the rest of the lower parts white, excepting the sides, which are tinged with brown; fore part of back reddish-brown, rump dull grey; quills dusky, the primaries edged with grey, the secondaries with reddish-brown; tail dusky, with the outer two feathers on each side white. Female with the head and neck blackish-grey, the back and wing-coverts dull brownish-red, the other parts as in the male.

Male, 61/4; wing, 31/12.

Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla oregona, Oregon Snow-Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 188.

Oregon Snow-Finch, Fringilla oregona, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 68.

GENUS IV. SPIZA, Bonap. PAINTED-BUNTING

Bill short, moderately stout, conical, acute; upper mandible rather narrower, with the dorsal line somewhat convex, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and a little convex, the edges inclining upwards for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight notch close to the narrow declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body rather full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus much compressed, with seven scutella; toes of moderate size, hind toe large, lateral equal. Claws slender, compressed, well arched, acute. Plumage full, soft, and blended. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest, the first about equal to the fourth. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Palate anteriorly with their narrow ridges, forming a large oblong hard knob at their base; tongue higher than broad, deeply grooved above, pointed; œsophagus dilated into a crop; stomach elliptical, muscular; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small.

169. 1. Spiza Ciris, Wils. Blue-headed Painted-Bunting. – Painted-Bunting. Painted-Finch

Plate LIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head and hind neck ultramarine-blue, eyelids vermilion; fore part of back and scapulars yellowish-green; rump purplish-red; smaller wing-coverts purplish-blue, secondary coverts green; quills and tail-feathers dusky; lower parts bright vermilion. Female yellowish-green above, greenish-yellow beneath. Young like the female. In the second year, the male with the upper parts olive-green, the lower dull orange, paler behind, head as in the adult; in the third year, with the back mottled with yellow and light green, the secondary coverts green, the rest as in the adult.

Male, 51/4, 71/2.

From Texas to North Carolina, and up the Mississippi to Natchez. Abundant. Migratory.

Painted Bunting, Emberiza Ciris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 68.

Fringilla Ciris, Bonap. Syn. p. 107.

Painted Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 477.

Painted Finch, Fringilla Ciris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 279; v. v. p. 517.

170. 2. Spiza cyanea, Wils. Indigo Painted-Bunting. – Indigo Bird

Plate LXXIV. Male and Female.

Male blue, tinged with verdigris-green, on the head approaching to ultramarine; quills and tail-feathers dusky, edged with greenish-blue. Female yellowish-brown above, paler beneath. Young like the female. Male, in the first autumn, of a lighter and duller blue than in the adult, the feathers of the upper parts tipped with brown, of the lower with yellowish, in the second year nearly as in the adult, but with the smaller coverts dull brown.

Male, 51/4, 71/2.

Distributed throughout the United States during summer. Abundant. Migratory.

Indigo Bird, Fringilla cyanea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 100.

Fringilla cyanea, Bonap. Syn. p. 107.

Indigo Bird, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 473.

Indigo Bird, Fringilla cyanea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 377; v. v. p. 503.

171. 3. Spiza amœna, Say. Lazuli Painted-Bunting. – Lazuli Finch

Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 1. Male. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 1. Female.

Male with the head, neck, and upper parts, light greenish-blue, the fore part of the back duller; loral space black; wings and tail dusky, the feathers margined with blue; two white bands on the wing; on the fore part of the breast a broad band of yellowish-red, the rest of the lower parts white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, the rump greenish-blue; fore parts pale yellowish-red, fading behind into white.

Male, 51/2; wing, 31/12.

From the Arkansas to the Columbia River. Never seen near the Atlantic coast. Plentiful. Migratory.

Emberiza amœna, Say, Long's Exped.

Lazuli Finch, Fringilla amœna, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 61.

Fringilla amœna, Bonap. Syn. p. 106.

Lazuli Finch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 478.

Lazuli Finch, Fringilla amœna, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 64, and p. 230.

GENUS V. AMMODRAMUS, Swains. SHORE-FINCH

Bill rather long, being little shorter than the head, rather slender, straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line considerably convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, with a slight festoon about the middle, and a faint notch, close to the tip, which is deflected and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, elliptical, basal, partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Tarsus rather short, stoutish, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather long, hind toe large, outer shorter than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws long, slender, little arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage soft and blended, with the filaments stiffish and disunited. No bristles. Wings short, convex, rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills longest, the first considerably shorter. Tail of moderate length, graduated, slender, of twelve narrow, acuminate feathers. No difference in the colours of the sexes.

172. 1. Ammodramus maritimus, Wils. Grey Shore-Finch. – Sea-side Finch

Plate XCIII. Male and Female.

Third and fourth quills longest, first and eighth equal; tail graduated; upper parts brownish-grey, tinged with olivaceous, two faint longitudinal bands of darker on the head; the feathers on the fore part of the back brown in the centre; margin of the wing at the flexure light yellow, smaller wing-coverts and outer webs of secondary coverts dull reddish-brown; quills and tail-feathers dusky brown, edged with pale brownish-grey; a yellow band from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, fainter behind; throat greyish-white, with a longitudinal bluish-grey band on each side; lower part of neck, fore part of breast, and sides, light bluish-grey, streaked with light olivaceous-brown; middle of breast pale grey, abdomen white, lower tail-coverts pale yellowish-brown, with a central dusky streak.

Male, 8, 11.

From Texas to Massachusetts along the shores of the Atlantic. Resident in the Southern States. Abundant.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 68.

Fringilla maritima, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 505.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 471.

173. 2. Ammodramus Macgillivrayi, Aud. Macgillvray's Shore-Finch

Plate CCCLV. Male and Female.

Second, third, and fourth quills longest, first and seventh equal; tail rounded. Upper parts dull olivaceous-grey, streaked with blackish-brown, the central parts of all the feathers being of the latter colour; margin of the wing at the flexure yellowish-white; all the feathers of the wings dusky brown, margined with pale olivaceous; tail-feathers blackish-brown, margined with olivaceous; a yellowish-brown streak from the base of the upper mandible over the eye; throat and fore neck greyish-white, with an indistinct dusky streak on each side; breast and sides pale dull yellowish-grey marked with brownish-black streaks; middle of the breast and abdomen greyish-white, tinged with yellowish-brown; lower tail-coverts pale yellowish-brown, with a central dusky streak.

Male, 51/2, 73/4.

Abundant in Texas and along the Gulf of Mexico. Rather rare in South Carolina, from which it migrates in autumn.

Macgillivray's Finch, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 285; v. iv. p. 394; v. v. p. 499.

174. 3. Ammodramus caudacutus, Lath. Buff-breasted Shore-Finch. – Sharp-tailed Finch

Plate CXLIX. Male and Female.

Second, third, and fourth quills longest, first and fifth equal; tail graduated. Upper part of the head with a central bluish-grey streak, deep brown at the sides with the feathers black in the centre; hind neck dull grey, tinged with brown; back brown, tinged with grey, some of the feathers marked with black and edged with greyish-white; quills dusky brown, edged with reddish-brown, the secondary and smaller coverts with their outer webs chiefly of the latter colour; tail-feathers dusky brown, margined with greyish-olive; a broad band of light yellowish-red from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, and extending beyond the middle of the neck, where it is broader; ear-coverts grey; a broad band of yellowish-red from the lower mandible down the neck; throat whitish, with a line of dusky streaks on each side; the lower part of the neck, a portion of the breast, the lower tail-coverts, and the sides, pale yellowish-red, streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 5, 71/4.

Breeds from Texas along the coast to Massachusetts. Never in the interior. Resident in the Southern States. Very abundant.

Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 70.

Fringilla caudacuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Shore Finch, Fringilla littoralis, Nutt. Man, v. i. p. 504.

Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 281; v. v. p. 499.

175. 4. Ammodramus palustris, Wils. Marsh Shore-Finch. Swamp Sparrow

Plate LXIV. Male.

Bill shorter than in the other species; tail-feathers less acuminate; upper part of head deep chestnut-red, streaked with black; hind part and sides of the neck light bluish-grey, cheeks dusky brown; a greyish-yellow streak over the eye; upper parts of body yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black; wing-coverts and secondaries broadly edged with yellowish-red, primaries with duller red; tail similar; throat greyish-white, with two small dusky streaks, the rest of the fore neck and part of the breast pale bluish-grey, the abdomen whitish, the sides yellowish-brown, streaked with dusky.

Male, 51/2, 71/2.

From Texas to North Carolina in winter. Spreads in spring and summer to the Missouri westward, and to Labrador eastward. Abundant.

Swamp Swallow, Fringilla palustris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 49.

Fringilla palustris, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla Georgiana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 502.

Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palustris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 331; v. v. p. 508.

GENUS VI. PEUCÆA, Aud. PINEWOOD-FINCH

Bill of moderate length, rather stout, straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line somewhat convex, the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, with the notches obsolete, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, roundish, partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body moderately stout. Tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, very slender, hind toe rather large, lateral toes about equal, outer adherent at the base. Claws of moderate length, very slender, extremely compressed, arched, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft, blended. Wings very short, convex, rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the first and seventh about equal. Tail rather long, graduated, of twelve narrow rounded feathers. No difference in the colours of the sexes. Name from [Greek: Peuchê], a pine.

176. 1. Peucæa Bachmanii, Aud. Bachman's Pinewood-Finch

Plate CLXV. Male.

Feathers of the upper parts brownish-red margined with bluish-grey, those on the fore part of the back darker; quills dusky brown, primaries margined with yellowish-grey, secondaries with brownish-red; tail-feathers dusky brown margined with grey; a band of ochre-yellow from the base of the upper mandible over the eye; throat pale yellowish-grey, with a short dusky streak on each side; lower parts light yellowish-grey, the fore part of the breast and the sides tinged with brown.

Male, 6, 71/2.

Georgia and South Carolina. Rather rare. Migratory.

Bachman's Finch, Fringilla Bachmanii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 366.

177. 2. Peucæa Lincolnii, Aud. Lincoln's Pinewood-Finch

Plate CXCIII. Male and Female.

Bill shorter and more slender. Upper parts yellowish, streaked with brownish-black: on the head a thin greyish-blue longitudinal band; quills dusky brown, margined with yellowish-brown; tail-feathers broadly margined with yellowish-brown; cheeks greyish-brown, with an inferior band of ochreous; throat white, streaked with dusky, and having a line of dusky spots on each side; fore part of breast and sides pale greyish-yellow, streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white.

Male, 53/4, 82/12.

New York and Labrador. Rather rare. Migratory.

Lincoln's Finch, Fringilla Lincolnii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 539.

GENUS VII. LINARIA, Ray. LINNET

Bill short, conical, moderately stout, higher than broad at the base, compressed toward the end, acuminate; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the nasal sinus very short and broad, the ridge distinct and narrow, the sides convex, the edges ascending at first, afterwards direct, the tip very narrow, without notches; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular, the dorsal line straight or very slightly concave, the sides convex, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, roundish; neck short; body moderate. Feet of moderate length; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather stout, the first large. Claws long, moderately arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather long, the first three quills nearly equal, the second generally longest, the first longer than the third. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate or forked, with the feathers pointed. Roof of upper mandible concave, with two ridges; tongue deeper than broad, concave above toward the point, which is acute; œsophagus enlarged about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine of moderate length, slender; cœca very small.

178. 1. Linaria borealis, Temm. Mealy Redpoll Linnet

Plate CCCC. Fig. 2. Male.

Male with the upper part of the head crimson, the cheeks, sides of the body, and hind part of the rump pale carmine; a band edging the forehead, the loral space, and the throat black; upper parts dusky, streaked with brownish-white, the fore part of the rump nearly white; feathers of the wings and tail dusky, margined with greyish-white, of which there are two transverse bands on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky. Female somewhat less, with the black on the forehead and throat tinged with brown, the crimson patch on the head of less extent, the sides and rump destitute of red.

Male, 51/4, 9.

Accidental in New Jersey and New York. More common from Maine northward. Labrador and Fur Countries. Columbia River.

Grosbec boreal, Fringilla borealis, Temm. Man. d'Orn. v. iii. p. 264.

Mealy Redpoll, Fringilla borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 87.

179. 2. Linaria minor, Ray. Lesser Redpoll Linnet

Plate CCCLXXV. Male and Female.

Male with the upper part of the head crimson; the sides of the neck, its fore part, the breast, and flanks, rich carmine; a band edging the forehead, the loral space, and the throat, brownish-black; the hind part of the head, the neck, the fore part of the back, and the scapulars deep-brown, streaked with pale yellowish-brown; the feathers on the rump margined with whitish, and tipped with carmine; feathers of the wings and tail brown, edged with yellowish-brown, of which there are two bands on the wings formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts white, tinged with rose-colours; the sides longitudinally streaked with dusky. Female somewhat less, with the back of the forehead and throat more brown, less red on the head, and little or none on the rump or lower parts, which are white, the breast and flanks streaked with dusky. Young with the feathers of the upper parts blackish-brown, edged with yellowish-brown, the rump yellowish-grey, the lower parts dull white, streaked with blackish-brown; no red on any part.