A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

196. 1. Erythrospiza purpurea, Gmel. Crested Purple-Finch. – Purple Finch

Plate IV. Male and Female.

Second quill longest, first shorter than third. Male with the head, neck, breast, back, and upper tail-coverts, crimson, paler behind; fore part of the back spotted with brown; quills, larger coverts, and tail, deep brown, margined with dull red. Female with the upper parts yellowish-olive, streaked with brown; a whitish band over the eye; lower parts greyish-white, streaked with brown. Young like the female.

Male, 6, 9.

During winter, from Texas to the Carolinas, and northward to Kentucky. In summer, from St Louis to the Columbia, and in the Fur Countries. Abundant.

Purple Finch, Fringilla purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 119.

Purple Finch, Bonap. Syn. p. 114.

Fringilla purpurea Wilson, Crested Purple Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 264.

Purple Finch, Fringilla purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 24; v. v. p. 200.

197. 2. Erythrospiza frontalis, Say. Crimson-fronted Purple-Finch

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 2. Male.

Third quill longest, second and fourth equal; tail long, slightly emarginate, and a little rounded. Male with the forehead and a band over the eye, proceeding down the neck, crimson; throat, fore part of breast and sides, with the rump, rich carmine, the latter paler; upper parts greyish-brown, the head, hind neck, and fore part of back, tinged with crimson; feathers of wings and tail dusky, edged with brownish-grey; hind part of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts yellowish-white, streaked with dusky. Female with the feathers of the upper parts brown, edged with brownish-white; the lower parts brownish-white, streaked with brown.

Male, 61/4, wing, 31/2.

Bases of Rocky Mountains. Rare. Migratory.

Fringilla frontalis, Say, Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 40.

Crimson-necked Bullfinch, Pyrrhula frontalis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. pl. 1.

Crimson-fronted Bullfinch, Pyrrhula frontalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 534.

Crimson-necked Finch, Fringilla frontalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 230.

198. 3. Erythrospiza tephrocotis, Swains. Grey-crowned Purple-Finch

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 3. Male.

Male dark umber-brown; upper part of head ash-grey, anteriorly spotted with black; first row of small wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts broadly edged and tipped with rose-red, as are the feathers of the sides, and the lower tail-coverts, feathers of wings and tail dusky brown, margined with brownish-white, the secondary coverts with dull red.

Male, 6; wing, 4.

Saskatchewan River. Very rare. Migratory.

Linaria (Leucosticte) tephrocotis, Swainson's Grey-crowned Linnet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 265.

Grey-crowned Linnet, Fringilla tephrocotis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 232.

GENUS XII. CORYTHUS, Cuv. PINE-FINCH

Bill short, robust, bulging at the base, conical, acute; upper mandible of the same breadth as the lower, with its dorsal line very convex, the nasal sinus semicircular, the sides convex, the edges sharp, overlapping, gently ascending at the base, then arched, with a slight festoon, the notches obsolete, the tip declinate, acute; lower mandible with the angle semicircular, the dorsal line slightly convex, the back rounded at the base, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, the tip obtuse. Nostrils basal, round, concealed by bristly feathers. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short; body moderately stout; feet short; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes stout, the first proportionally large, the lateral nearly equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws long, moderately arched, compressed, acute, that of the third toe longer than that of the first. Plumage soft, full, rather blended; two tufts of bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the first, second, and third, nearly equal. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate. Roof of the mouth concave, with five prominent ridges; tongue deeper than broad, in its distal half oblong, concave, obtuse, and horny; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach large, muscular, with the lateral muscles distinct, and the epithelium rugous, intestine long, and rather slender; cœca very small; cloaca oblong.

199. 1. Corythus Enucleator, Linn. Common Pine-finch. – Pine Grosbeak

Plate CCCLVIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male bright carmine, tinged with vermilion; the feathers on the fore part of the back and the scapulars greyish-brown in the centre; bristly feathers at the base of the bill blackish-brown; middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, light grey, the latter with a central dusky streak; wings blackish-brown; primaries edged with reddish-white, secondaries more broadly with white; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with reddish-white; smaller coverts edged with red. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck yellowish-brown, the rump brownish-yellow, the rest of the upper parts light brownish-grey, wings and tail as in the male, but the white edgings and tips tinged with grey; cheeks and throat greyish-white, or yellowish; lower parts ash-grey, anteriorly tinged with brownish-yellow. The young resemble the female. Young males yellow and red, like those of Loxia curvirostra.

Male, 81/2, 14. Female, 81/4, 131/2.

From Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in winter, eastward to Newfoundland. Breeds from Maine northward. Common. Migratory.

Pine Grosbeak, Loxia Enucleator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 80.

Pyrrhula Enucleator, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

Pyrrhula (Corythus) Enucleator, Pine Bullfinch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 262.

Pine Grosbeak or Bullfinch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 535.

Pine Grosbeak, Pyrrhula Enucleator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 414.

GENUS XIII. LOXIA, Linn. CROSSBILL

Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is much higher than broad, extremely compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity deflected to opposite sides, so as to cross each other; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, and towards the end united, the tip excessively compressed and decurved; lower mandible with its angle semicircular, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by the short bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body compact. Feet rather short and strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes of moderate size, the first strong, the lateral nearly equal. Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point, that of the middle toe nearly as long as that of the first. Plumage soft, full, and blended. Two tufts of bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three primaries longest, the first generally exceeding the rest. Tail short, distinctly emarginate. Roof of the mouth concave, with three ridges, of which the median is much smaller; tongue deeper than broad, at the end oblong, obtuse, concave above, and horny; œsophagus dilated into a very large crop; stomach roundish, muscular, with the epithelium rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small.

200. 1. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. Common Crossbill

Plate CXCVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male dull light red, inclining to vermilion; the wings and tail blackish-brown, the feathers narrowly margined with dull red. Female with the upper parts greyish-brown, tinged with green, the rump dull greenish-yellow, the sides of the head and neck of the same colour as the back, the lower parts pale greyish-yellow, brighter on the fore part of the breast, wings and tail as in the male, but the feathers edged with dull yellowish. Young with the central part of the feathers greyish-brown, the edges yellowish-grey, the upper parts thus appearing spotted, the lower streaked with dusky. Young males vary in the tints of the plumage from yellowish-green to orange and vermilion.

Male, 7, 10.

From Maryland eastward and northward, to lat. 52. Breeds in Pennsylvania, New York, and the north-eastern States to Nova Scotia. Common. Migratory.

American Crossbill, Curvirostra americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 44.

Loxia curvirostra, Bonap. Syn. p. 117.

Common Crossbill, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 583.

Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 559; v. v. p. 511.

201. 2. Loxia leucoptera, Gmel. White-winged Crossbill

Plate CCCLXIV. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill excessively compressed, with the mandibles less curved. Male rich carmine, inclining to crimson; the feathers on the fore part and middle of the back dusky, excepting the tips; the scapulars, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail black; two broad bands of white on the wings, the anterior formed by the first row of small coverts, and several of those adjoining, the other by the secondary coverts, of which the basal half only is black. Female with the feathers of the upper parts dusky, edged with greyish-yellow, the rump wax-yellow; the wings and tail as in the male, but with the white bands of less breadth; lower parts yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky, the fore part of the breast wax-yellow. Young similar to the female, but with the lower parts dull yellowish-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown.

Male, 61/2, 105/8. Female, 61/4, 10.

During winter, as far south as Maryland. Not uncommon in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where a few breed. Common in Maine, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Migratory.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 48.

Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Syn. p. 117.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.

Loxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 263.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 540.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 467.

GENUS XIV. CORYDALINA, Aud. LARK-FINCH

Bill of the same form as in the Guiraca, but smaller, and approaching to that of Dolichonyx, being short, robust, conical, a little compressed; upper mandible a little narrower, with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very broad and short, the sides convex, the edges ascending for a third of their length, then direct, the notches almost obsolete, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle short and very broad, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip pointed. Nostrils basal, roundish. Head large, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length, stout; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather large, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third very long. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of upper mandible feeble. Wings of moderate length, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest, the fourth slightly shorter than the third; outer secondaries broadly rounded and emarginate; inner tapering to a rounded point, one of them, when the wing is closed, little shorter than the outer primaries. Tail of moderate length, a little rounded. Name from [Greek: Korydalos], a lark.

202. 1. Corydalina bicolor, Towns. Prairie Lark-Finch

Plate CCCXC. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female.

Male black, slightly tinged with grey; a large patch of white on the wing, including some of the smaller coverts, the tips of the first row, and their secondary coverts; primaries and outer secondaries narrowly, inner secondaries broadly margined with white; tail-feathers narrowly edged with white, and having a narrow speck of the same at the end of the inner web. Female smaller, with the upper parts greyish-brown, streaked with dusky brown; the lower white, with oblong spots of brownish-black, the abdomen nearly pure white, their sides tinged with reddish-brown; quills dark brown, edged and tipped with reddish-white; the patch on the wing of the same tint; tail-feathers dark brown, the outer externally edged, and all tipped with white on the inner web.

Male, 7, wing 35/12.

Plains of the Platte River. Plentiful. Migratory.

Fringilla bicolor, Prairie Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 189.

Prairie Finch, Fringilla bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 19.

GENUS XV. PITYLUS, Cuvier. CARDINAL GROSBEAK

Bill rather short, very robust, much higher than broad, tapering to a point; upper mandible considerably smaller than the lower, with the dorsal line convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very wide, the sides convex, the edges ascending rapidly for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight festoon, slightly inflected, the notches faint, the tip a little deflected and narrow; lower mandible with the angle semicircular, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base inflected, toward the end convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round, concealed by the feathers. Plumage soft and blended, feathers of the head elongated and erectile; distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, the fourth and fifth quills longest, the first and eighth about equal. Tail long, rounded. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath, outer toe slightly longer than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue as high as broad, convex above, tapering to a point. Œsophagus nearly uniform, stomach pretty large, roundish, its lateral muscles strong.

203. 1. Pitylus Cardinalis, Linn. Common Cardinal Grosbeak. – Cardinal Bird. Red Bird. Virginian Nightingale

Plate CLIX. Male and Female.

Male with the bill coral-red; plumage vermilion, duller on the upper parts; anterior part of forehead, lores, and throat black, inner webs of quills brown. Female with the bill paler, the upper parts yellowish-grey, the lower greyish-yellow, capistrum dusky; some of the crest-feathers, the wings and tail, as in the male, but of a fainter tint.

Male, 81/2, 111/2.

Breeds abundantly from Texas to New York. Very rare in Massachusetts. Valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio. Resident from Maryland southward.

Cardinal Grosbeak, Loxia cardinalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 38.

Fringilla cardinalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Cardinal Grosbeak or Red Bird, Fringilla cardinalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 519.

Cardinal Grosbeak, Fringilla cardinalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 336; v. v. p. 514.

GENUS XVI. COCCOBORUS, Swains. SONG-GROSBEAK

Bill rather short, extremely robust, almost as broad as the head and somewhat compressed, tapering to a point; upper mandible considerably smaller than the lower, with the dorsal line convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very wide, the sides convex, the edges ascending for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight festoon, and inflected, the notches faint, the tip a little deflected, and narrow; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base inflected, toward the end convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round. Plumage somewhat compact, blended; distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, slightly emarginate. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath, outer toe slightly longer than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue as high as broad, convex above, tapering to a point; œsophagus rather wide, dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, compressed, with its muscles distinct and of moderate thickness, the epithelium longitudinally rugous; intestine short, and of moderate width; cœca very small.

204. 1. Coccoborus cœruleus, Linn. Blue Song-Grosbeak

Plate CXXII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male blue; with the lores, chin, and a line round the base of the mandibles black; wings and tail brownish-black, the latter and the primaries edged with blue, the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts tipped with reddish-brown. Female with the head and hind part of the back blue; the fore part of the back brown, the wings and tail as in the male, the lower parts light greyish-brown, the sides, and fore part of the neck and the breast tinged with blue. Young yellowish-brown, lighter beneath; the upper part of the head, the back, smaller wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts tinged with dusky.

Male, 71/2, 11.

From Texas to New Jersey, and up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rocky Mountains. Rather rare. Migratory.

Blue Grosbeak, Loxia cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 78.

Fringilla cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 114.

Blue Grosbeak, Fringilla cœrulea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 529.

Blue Grosbeak, Fringilla cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 140; v. v. p. 508.

205. 2. Coccoborus Ludovicianus, Linn. Rose-breasted Song-Grosbeak

Plate CXXVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the head, neck, fore part of back, wings, and tail, black; lower part of the fore neck, a portion of the breast, axillars, and lower wing-coverts, rich carmine; hind part of the back, two bands on the wings, bases of primary quills, tips of secondaries, and terminal half of inner webs of outer three tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with darker, the lower yellowish-white, the sides of the neck, fore part of breast, and sides streaked with yellowish-brown; three white bands on the head; white wing-bands narrower than in the male; axillars and lower wing-coverts light buff. Young like the female.

Male, 73/4, 13.

Passes from Texas northward and eastward in great numbers. Breeds on the Missouri, in the Middle States, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Rather common. Migratory.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Loxia rosea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 135.

Fringilla ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Coccothraustes ludoviciana, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, F. Bor. Amer. v. i. p. 271.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Fringilla ludoviciana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 527.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Fringilla ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 166; v. ii. p. 513.

206. 3. Coccoborus melanocephalus, Swains. Black-headed Song-Grosbeak

Plate CCCLXXIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head, cheeks, a small portion of the throat, wings, and tail, black; a band on the hind neck, the fore part and sides of the neck, a portion of the breast, and the sides, dull reddish-orange; the middle of the breast, axillars, and lower wing-coverts, light yellow; back black, streaked with yellowish-red; rump of the latter colour; two bands on the wings, the base and outer margins of the primaries, the tips of the secondaries, and a terminal patch on the inner webs of the outer three tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with darker, the lower light yellowish-brown; the axillars and lower wing-coverts light yellow; white wing-bands narrower than in the male.

Male, 81/2, wing 41/4.

Central Table-land of Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Black-headed Grosbeak, Fringilla melanocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 519.

GENUS XVII. COCCOTHRAUSTES, Briss. GROSBEAK

Bill of moderate length, extremely robust, almost as broad as the head, not compressed, conical, pointed; upper mandible rather broader than the lower, with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus extremely wide and short, the sides rounded, the edges simply arched and a little inflected, the notches almost obsolete, the tip a little deflected; lower mandible with the angle extremely short and wide, forming the fourth of a circle, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base and in their whole length convex, the edges involute, the tip acute; nostrils basal, round. Plumage blended. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath; outer toe a little longer than the inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, or rather stout, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three prominent lines.

207. 1. Coccothraustes vespertina, Cooper. Evening Grosbeak

Plate CCCLXXIII. Fig. 1. Male.

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig 5. Female. Fig. 6. Young Male.

Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck black, bounded anteriorly by a broadish band of bright yellow passing over the eyes; a narrow line of black margining the base of the bill; cheeks, lower part of hind neck, and throat, dark yellowish-olive, this colour gradually brightening on the body, until, on the outer edges of the scapulars, the rump, the axillars, lower wing-coverts, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, it becomes pure yellow; smaller wing-coverts, alula, primary coverts, primaries, outer three secondaries, outer web of the next, and the bases of the inner secondaries black, as is the tail; six inner secondaries, and their coverts, the basal part excepted, black. Female with the upper parts brownish-grey, the head and cheeks darker, the lower parts pale grey, the throat white, with two longitudinal black bands; a band of greenish-yellow across the fore part of the back, axillars and lower wing-coverts light yellow; wings and tail, with their coverts, brownish-black, secondary coverts, and quills edged with yellowish-white, bases of some of the primaries, tips of the tail-coverts, and inner webs of all the tail-feathers at the end, white. Young male similar to the female, but without the black bands on the throat.

Male, 8, wing 43/4. Female, 71/2, wing 41/4.

Michigan. Columbia River. Saskatchewan. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla vespertina, Cooper, Ann. Lyc. New York, v. i. p. 220.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. pl. 14.

Coccothraustes vespertina, Evening Grosbeak, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 269.

Evening Grosbeak, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 594.

Coccothraustes Bonapartii, Lesson, Young Male.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 515; v. v. p. 235.

GENUS XVIII. PYRANGA, Vieill. RED-BIRD

Bill of moderate length, robust, tapering, compressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal line declinate and considerably convex, the ridge rather narrow, nasal sinus very short and wide, the sides convex, the edges sharp, slightly arched, with a festoon about the middle, the notches distinct, the tip very slender, declinate; lower mandible strong, with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round. Head ovate; neck short; body compact. Tarsus short, with seven scutella; toes rather small, the first moderate, the outer slightly longer than the inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, well arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, those of the first and third toes equal. Plumage soft and blended; distinct bristles at the base of upper mandible. Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest, the first a little shorter. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Upper mandible concave, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue somewhat triangular, convex above, with the point thin-edged and lacerated; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach broadly elliptical, small, its lateral muscles rather small; epithelium thin, longitudinally rugous; intestine short; cœca extremely small. Inferior laryngeal muscles four on each side, but very small.