A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

Lanius Excubitor differs in being considerably smaller, and in having the white on the wings and tail more extended, the bases and a great portion of the inner webs of the secondaries, except the inner three, being of that colour, as well as the bases of the primaries, and forming a conspicuous spot when the wing is closed, and the outer tail-feathers being often white in their whole length.

Male, 102/12, 142/12.

Breeds from Pennsylvania northward. During winter, migrates westward to the Mississippi, and as far south as Natchez. Not uncommon.

Great American Shrike or Butcher Bird, Lanius Excubitor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 74.

Lanius septentrionalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius borealis, Greater Northern Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 111.

Great American Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 258.

Great American Shrike, Lanius Excubitor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 534; v. v. p. 434.

237. 2. Lanius Ludovicianus, Linn. Loggerheaded Shrike

Plate LVII. Male and Female.

Third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, second and sixth equal; tail rather long, graduated; bill black, upper parts deep leaden-grey, lower greyish-white, the sides bluish-grey; a streak of whitish over the eye, and margining the forehead; loral space, and a patch behind the eye, black; posterior scapulars almost entirely white; quills and coverts black, secondaries narrowly tipped with white; bases of primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch on the extended wing; tail-feathers black, all except the middle pair white at the end, that colour occupying nearly two-thirds of the outer, and gradually diminishing on the rest. Female with the plumage somewhat darker. Young brownish-white beneath, the breast and sides transversely barred with dark grey.

Male, 81/2, 13.

From Louisiana to Carolina, laterally to the Columbia River, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Resident in the south. Migratory in the north.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 57.

Lanius ludovicianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius Excubitorides, American Grey Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 115.

Loggerhead Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 261.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 300; v. v. p. 300.

FAMILY XX. VIREONINÆ. GREENLETS

Bill of moderate length, straight, rather stout, compressed toward the end; gape-line slightly arched, notches distinct, tip very small, declinate. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus compressed, slender, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather small, hind toe rather stout, lateral equal. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed. Tail of moderate length, even or emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with a median ridge; tongue narrow, flat above, with the point slit; œsophagus of moderate length, without dilatation; stomach, roundish, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, and rather wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. VIREO, Vieill. GREENLET

Bill rather short or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and towards the end somewhat convex, the edges straight, the notches distinct, the tip small, decurved, acute; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and rather convex, the sides convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute and ascending. Nostrils basal, oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather stout. Tarsus rather short, slender, compressed, with seven scutella; toes small, first large, inner considerably shorter than outer, which is adnate at the base. Plumage soft and blended; bristles small. Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest, the first not much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even.

238. 1. Vireo flavifrons, Vieill. Yellow-throated Greenlet

Plate CXIX. Male.

Upper parts light green, the rump, scapulars, and smaller wing-coverts bluish-grey; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrower, edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; sides of the neck yellowish-green; a line over the eye, throat, and breast yellow, the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 53/4, 91/2.

From Texas to Nova Scotia. Rare in the interior, more abundant in the middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Muscicapa sylvicola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 117.

Vireo flavifrons, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Yellow-throated Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 302.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 119; v. v. p. 428.

239. 2. Vireo solitarius, Vieill. Solitary Greenlet

Plate XXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light olive-green, head greyish-blue; lower white, the sides greenish-yellow; eyelids and a band of white from the bill over the eye; a dusky spot before the eye; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; head and sides of neck inclining to greyish-blue.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, rather abundant. Rare in the interior. Columbia River. Migratory.

Solitary Flycatcher, Muscicapa solitaria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 143.

Vireo solitarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.

Solitary Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo solitarius, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 305.

Solitary Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo solitarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 147; v. v. p. 432.

240. 3. Vireo Noveboracensis, Gmel. White-eyed Greenlet

Plate LXIII. Male.

Upper parts light green, inclining to olivaceous, forehead tinged with yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides yellow; eyelids and a band from the bill over the eye yellow; quills and coverts brown; two bands of yellowish-white on the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly margined with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brown, without white edgings; iris white.

Male, 5, 7.

Throughout the United States and Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Migratory, but great numbers spend the winter in the Southern States.

White-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa cantatrix, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 266.

Vireo noveboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

White-eyed Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo noveboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 806.

White-eyed Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo noveboracensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 328; v. v. p. 431, 433.

241. 4. Vireo gilvus, Vieill. Warbling Greenlet

Plate CXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light greenish-olive, the head and hind neck greyish-brown; a white band over the eye; wings and tail brown, quills edged with green; lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides tinged with yellow.

Male, 51/4, 81/2.

From Texas to Maine, and in the interior to Columbia River. Abundant. Migratory.

Warbling Flycatcher, Muscicapa melodia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 85.

Vireo gilvus, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Warbling Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 309.

Warbling Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo gilvus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 114; v. v. p. 433.

242. 5. Vireo Bartrami, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet

Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 4. Male.

Wings of moderate length, with the second and third quills longest and about equal, the fourth scarcely shorter, the first considerably shorter than the fifth. Upper parts light yellowish-olive, the crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of yellowish-white from the nostril over the eye; loral space dusky; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow.

Male, 47/8, 73/4.

From Texas to New York. Not met with in the interior. Rather rare. Migratory.

Vireo Bartramii, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 235.

Bartram's Vireo, Vireo Bartramii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 296.

243. 6. Vireo olivaceus, Linn. Red-eyed Greenlet

Plate CL. Male.

Wings long, with the second quill longest, the third slightly shorter, the first considerably longer than the fourth, upper parts light yellowish-olive, crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of white; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow; iris red.

Male, 51/2, 9.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and through the interior. Accidental in the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Red-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa olivacea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 55.

Vireo olivaceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 71.

Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 233.

Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 287; v. v. p. 430.

FAMILY XXI. PIPRINÆ. MANAKINS

Bill short, stout, straight, depressed, being much broader than high at the base, with the dorsal line arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping, the gape-line straightish or slightly arched, the notches rather large, the tip very small and declinate. Head rather large, broadly ovate; neck short; body compact. Tarsus of moderate length, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes small, the hind one not much stouter, the lateral equal. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft, full, and blended. Wings of moderate length, broad, and rounded. Tail short or of moderate length, generally rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with a prominent median line; tongue triangular, horny, thin-edged, rather obtuse, bristly at the end; œsophagus wide, without dilatation; stomach rather small, roundish, moderately muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca very small.

GENUS I. ICTERIA. Vieill. CHAT

Bill of moderate length, stout, slightly arched, broad at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the sides convex, the edges sharp, destitute of notch, the tip acute and a little declinate; lower mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, the edge-line slightly arched and inflected. Nostrils roundish, half covered by a vaulted membrane. General form rather robust; head ovate, neck short, body moderate. Legs of moderate length, slender; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with eight scutella, of which the upper are blended; two lateral toes nearly equal, the hind one not much stouter. Claws moderate, arch much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles very small. Wings of moderate length, rounded, third and fourth primaries longest, second little shorter, first longer than sixth. Tail rather long, rounded.

244. 1. Icteria viridis, Gmel. Yellow-breasted Chat

Plate CXXXVII. Male and Female.

Upper parts deep olive-green; fore part of neck and breast bright yellow; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; eyelids, a band over the eye, and a shorter one from the base of lower mandible, white; loral space black.

Male, 7, 9.

From Texas to Connecticut. Inland as far as Kentucky. Abundant. Migratory.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Pipra polyglotta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 90.

Icteria viridis, Bonap. Syn. p. 69.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria viridis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 299.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria viridis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 223; v. v. p. 433.

FAMILY XXII. AMPELINÆ. CHATTERERS

Bill short, depressed, rather weak, triangular when viewed from above, compressed at the end, its upper outline arched, the gape-line nearly straight, the notches very small, the tip very small and declinate. Nostrils elliptical, partially concealed by reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate; neck short; body moderate or full. Feet short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed; toes rather small. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage generally blended and glossy. Wings of moderate length, broad. Tail short or of moderate length. Roof of upper mandible rather concave, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue horny, deeply slit; œsophagus very wide, dilated about the middle; stomach small, elliptical, moderately muscular; intestine of moderate length and very wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of very small inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. BOMBYCILLA, Briss. WAXWING

Bill short, rather stout, straightish, broader than high at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and declinate towards the tip, which is deflected, narrow, and rather acute, its sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches distinct; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very small, acute, ascending, with a small sinus behind; gape-line nearly straight. Nostrils oval, partially concealed by the reversed stiffish feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet rather short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed, with six scutella; toes of moderate size, first stout, broad beneath, outer slightly adherent at the base; inner a little shorter. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage blended, very soft, somewhat silky, but with little gloss; head tufted; no bristles. Wings rather long, broad, and pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, even. This genus is remarkable for the oblong bright red horny appendages to the tips of the wings and tail-feathers, which, however, are not seen in all the species. Roof of upper mandible slightly concave, with three ridges; tongue triangular, concave, horny, deep slit, with two slender points; œsophagus very wide, much dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, elliptical, muscular; intestine short and extremely wide; cœca very small.

245. 1. Bombycilla garrula, Vieill. Black-throated Waxwing. – Bohemian Chatterer

Plate CCCLXIII. Male and Female.

General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind in ash-grey, before into brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail; a band of deep black from the nasal membrane over the eye to the top of the head, where it is concealed by the crest; feathers at the base of the lower mandible and a narrow streak below the eye, white; upper part of throat deep black; feathers of the wings greyish-black; primary coverts largely tipped with white; primary quills with a bright yellow, secondary with a white elongated spot at the end of the outer web, and tipped with oblong wax-red appendages; tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep black, with a broad band of bright yellow. Female similar to the male, but somewhat smaller. Oblong waxen appendages to the secondary quills, varying from seven to three, sometimes wanting, especially in young birds; males with the shafts of the tail-feathers very slightly enlarged at the end, and bright red. Carefully compared with European specimens.

Male, 93/4, 161/4.

From New York, eastward and northward, to the Fur Countries.

Bombycilla garrula, European Chatterer, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 237.

Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Syn. p. 438.

Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 16.

European Waxen Chatterer, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 579.

Bohemian Chatterer, Bombycilla garrula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 462.

246. 2. Bombycilla Carolinensis, Briss. Cedar Waxwing. – Cedar Bird

Plate XLIII. Male and Female.

General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind into ash-grey, before into pale brownish-red, of which colour is the upper part of the head; a black band on the forehead passing backwards over the eye to the occiput, and margined above and below by a narrow white band; feathers in the angle of the lower mandible black; abdomen pale yellow; lower tail-coverts white; wings and tail dull leaden-blue, darker toward the end; primaries with a very small pale yellow spot at the tip, secondaries tipped with an oblong wax-red appendage, as are the tail-feathers, of which the extremity is bright yellow. Female similar to the male but somewhat smaller. The oblong appendages to the wings vary from nine to three. Young with the upper parts of a uniform dull greenish-brown, lower parts of the same colour, the throat pale buff, abdomen and lower tail-coverts yellowish-white.

Male, 63/4, 11.

From Texas northward to the Fur Countries. Westward to the Columbia River. Extremely abundant in Louisiana during winter.

Bombycilla carolinensis, Briss. v. ii. p. 337.

Cedar Bird, Ampelis americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 107.

Bombycilla carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 59.

Cedar Bird or Cherry Bird, Nutt. Man. v. i.

Cedar Bird, Bombycilla carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 227; v. v. p. 494.

FAMILY XXIII. SITTINÆ. NUTHATCHES

Bill of moderate length or rather long, straight, rather slender, conico-subulate, somewhat compressed, with the tips acute, or cuneate. Head ovate; neck short; body full. Tarsi rather short, or of moderate length, slender, compressed, with seven or eight scutella; toes long, very slender; hind toe extremely long; anterior little spreading; claws long, little arched, slender, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft and full. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded. Tail short, broad, of twelve feathers. Roof of upper mandible very narrow, slightly concave, with three ridges; tongue very slender, with the tip abrupt and bristly; œsophagus without dilatation; stomach roundish, moderately muscular; intestine short and wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple; with a single pair of large inferior laryngeal muscles. Allied to the Titmice on the one hand, and the Woodpeckers on the other.

GENUS I. SITTA, Linn. NUTHATCH

Bill rather long, or of moderate length, straight, conico-subulate, a little compressed, rather obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal outline very slightly arched, the ridge rather narrow, the sides sloping, the edges sharp without notches, the tip rather blunt; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, round operculate, partially concealed by the reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate; neck short; body short. Tarsi rather short, stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes long, much compressed; first very long, second much shorter than fourth; anterior toes adherent at the base. Claws long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings rather long, first quill extremely small, third and fourth longest. Tail short, of twelve feathers broad, nearly even. Upper mandible slightly concave with three ridges; tongue slender, very thin, with the point abrupt and terminated by strong bristles; œsophagus without dilatation; stomach rather large, roundish, moderately muscular; intestine rather short and wide; cœca very small.

247. 1. Sitta Carolinensis, Linn. White-breasted Nuthatch

Plate CLII. Male and Female.

Upper part of head and hind neck deep black; back light greyish-blue; quills black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colour, the rest black, with a broad band of white near the end; sides of the head and lower parts white; lower tail-coverts with the inner webs brownish-red. Young without black on the head.

Male, 51/4, 11.

Common from Texas to Maine. Throughout the interior to the Columbia. Resident.

White-breasted American Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 10.

Sitta carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 96.

White-breasted American Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 581.

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 299; v. v. p. 473.

248. 2. Sitta Canadensis, Linn. Red-bellied Nuthatch

Plate CV. Male and Female.

Upper parts of head and hind neck deep black; back light greyish-blue; quills brownish-black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colour, the rest black, the outer two with a white band near the end; lower parts yellowish-red. Female with the head paler.

Male, 41/2, 8.

From Maryland to Nova Scotia. Common. One seen in Labrador. Columbia River. Resident.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 40.

Sitta canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 96.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 583.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 24; v. v. p. 474.

249. 3. Sitta pusilla, Lath. Brown-headed Nuthatch

Plate CXXV. Male and Female.

Upper part of head and hind neck light reddish-brown, the latter with a white spot; back light greyish-blue; quills brownish-black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colours, the rest black, the outer three with a broad band of white near the end; lower parts yellowish-white, the sides greyish-blue.

Male, 4, 8.

From Texas to Maryland. In the interior to Mississippi. Extremely abundant. Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the Carolinas. Resident.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 105.

Sitta pusilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 97.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 584.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 151.

250. 4. Sitta pygmæa, Vigors. Californian Nuthatch

Plate CCCCXV. Figs. 3, 4. Adult.

Upper part of head and hind neck dull greyish-brown; back dull leaden-grey; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with light grey, the lateral two feathers on each side with a white band toward the base; lower parts brownish-white.

Adult, 310/12, wing, 35/12.

California.

Californian Nuthatch, Sitta pygmæa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 163.

FAMILY XXIV. TROCHILINÆ. HUMMINGBIRDS

Bill long, very slender, straight or arched, somewhat depressed at the base, subcylindrical, flexible, acute. Head rather large; neck of moderate length; body moderately robust. Feet very short, rather stout; tarsus extremely short; toes of moderate size; the anterior coherent at the base, and nearly of equal length, the hind toe articulated high on the tarsus; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage compact above, soft and blended beneath, often with metallic lustre; wings very long, extremely narrow, falciform, with the first quill longest, the other primaries rapidly diminishing; secondaries extremely short. Tail various, of ten feathers. Tongue very long, slender, with two flat, thin-edged terminal filaments, and extensile by means of the elongation of the hyoid bones, which curve over the head to the fore part of the forehead, and with their muscles slide in a groove, like those of the Woodpeckers. Œsophagus narrow, considerably enlarged about the middle; stomach extremely small, roundish, moderately muscular, its epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine very short and of moderate width; no cœca; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, but divided very high up on the neck, so that the bronchi are of excessive length, with a large pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.