A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

FAMILY XXXII. TETRAONINÆ. GROUSE

Bill short, stout, with the upper mandible convex, thin edged, without notches, its tip thin edged, obtuse, the lower mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges thin, the tip rounded. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body very bulky. Feet short, stout; tarsus partially or entirely feathered; hind toe small, third long, lateral nearly equal, all scutellate, anterior webbed at the base. Claws moderate or long, arched, rather depressed, blunt. Plumage full and soft; feathers with the plumule much developed. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail various, of more than twelve feathers. A bare coloured space on each side of the neck, usually concealed by the feathers; but in some species capable of being distended so as to protrude. A bare red membrane over the eye, more developed in the males. Tongue triangular, pointed; œsophagus with an enormous crop; stomach a very powerful gizzard, having the lateral muscles extremely developed, the epithelium dense, with two concave grinding surfaces; the intestine long and wide; cœca excessively elongated, cylindrical, with internal longitudinal ridges. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous, spotted. Young covered with stiffish down.

GENUS I. TETRAO, Linn. GROUSE

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the ridge convex, narrowed at the base, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip thin-edged and rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip rounded. Nostrils roundish, in the fore part of the large and feathered nasal depression. Head small, ovate; neck of ordinary length; body large and full. Feet stout, of moderate length; tarsus short, feathered, at the lower part sometimes bare, and scutellate; toes bare, scutellate, with a marginal fringe of pectinate scales. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage full, soft, rather blended. Wings rather short, convex, much rounded, the third and fourth quills longest. Tail rounded, of more than twelve feathers.

* Tarsus partially bare.

295. 1. Tetrao Umbellus, Linn. Ruffed Grouse. – Partridge Pheasant

Plate XLI. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head narrow and elongated into a decurved tuft; an erectile ruff of broad, abrupt, glossy feathers, in two tufts; tail of eighteen feathers, rounded. Upper part of head and hind part of neck bright yellowish-red, variegated with dusky; back chestnut, marked with oblong white spots, margined with black; quills brown, their outer webs pale yellowish-red, spotted with dusky; upper tail-coverts banded or spotted with black; tail reddish-yellow, narrowly barred and minutely mottled with black, and terminated by a broad band of the latter, between two narrow bands of greyish-white; a yellowish-white band from the bill to the eye, beyond which it is prolonged; throat and fore neck light brownish-yellow; lower ruff-feathers of the same colour, barred with reddish-brown, upper black, glossed with blue; lower parts yellowish-white, with broad transverse spots of dusky or brown. Female with the crest and ruff less developed, the latter of a duller black; the tints of the plumage duller than in the male. In the northern parts the plumage is generally less red, but otherwise similar.

Male, 18, 24.

Common from Maryland to Labrador, and in the interior, from the mountainous districts to Canada and the Saskatchewan. Columbia River. Resident.

Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao umbellus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 46.

Tetrao umbellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 126.

Tetrao umbellus, Ruffed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 342.

Ruffed Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 657.

Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao Umbellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 211; v. v. p. 560.

** Tarsus feathered to the toes. Tail rather long, broad, rounded.

296. 2. Tetrao Canadensis, Linn. Canada Grouse. – Spotted Grouse

Plate CLXXVI. Male and Female.

Tail of sixteen feathers, rounded. Male with the upper parts transversely banded with brownish-black and light grey; wings variegated with dusky and greyish-yellow; quills brown, the outer webs of the primaries mottled with yellowish; tail blackish-brown, tipped with a band of reddish-yellow; lower parts black; the feathers on the throat with a white spot near the end; a band of white spots behind the eye; on the breast, the feathers with a broad subterminal spot; and the lower tail-coverts largely tipped with white. Female with the upper parts as in the male, but more broadly barred; head, sides of neck, fore neck, and anterior part of breast, yellowish-red, barred with brownish-black; lower parts greyish-black, barred with reddish-white; tail minutely mottled, and tipped with reddish-brown.

Male, 153/4, 213/4. Female, 151/2, 21.

Plentiful from the northern parts of New York to Labrador, as well as from Canada to the Arctic Sea. Columbia River. Partially migratory in winter.

Spotted Grouse, Tetrao canadensis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 20.

Tetrao canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Tetrao canadensis, Spotted Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 346.

Tetrao Franklinii, Franklin's Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 348.

Spotted Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 667.

Spotted or Canada Grouse, Tetrao canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 437; v. v. p. 563.

297. 3. Tetrao obscurus, Say. Dusky Grouse

Plate CCCLXI. Male and Female.

A slender crest of narrow feathers; tail of twenty feathers; rounded. Male with the upper parts blackish-brown, the wings lighter; elongated feathers on the head greyish-brown; hind neck minutely undulated with bluish-grey; scapulars, inner secondaries, and smaller wing-coverts also minutely undulated with grey and brownish-red; rump and upper tail-coverts and quills clove-brown, secondaries bordered and tipped with yellowish-grey, primaries mottled with grey on their outer webs, tail black; sides of head, fore part and sides of neck, and fore part of breast, greyish-black; loral space and throat barred with white; lower parts generally blackish-grey, the feathers of the sides with a median streak and terminal patch of white, and more or less barred with dusky, as are the lower tail-coverts; axillary feathers and inner wing-coverts white; tarsal feathers brownish-grey. Female considerably smaller, with the upper parts greyish-brown, barred with dusky, and minutely undulated; the fore neck banded with brown and pale sienna, the rest of the lower parts as in the male, but paler.

Male, 22, wing 91/2. Female, 191/2, wing 9.

From the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River, and northward to Hudson's Bay. Abundant. Resident.

Tetrao obscurus, Say, Long's Exped.

Tetrao obscurus, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 18.

Tetrao obscurus, Dusky Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 344.

Dusky Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 666.

Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 446.

*** Tail very short, transversely arched, much rounded.

298. 4. Tetrao Cupido, Linn. Pinnated Grouse

Feathers of the crown elongated; two tufts of lanceolate elongated feathers on the sides of the neck, under which is an oblong bare orange-coloured space on either side, capable of being inflated; tail very short, much rounded, of eighteen feathers. Male with the upper parts blackish-brown, transversely marked with broad undulating bands of light yellowish-red; wing-coverts and secondaries of a lighter brown, tinged with grey, and barred with pale red: primary quills greyish-brown, with black shafts, and spots of pale reddish on the outer webs, tail dark brown, narrowly tipped with dull white, the two middle feathers mottled with brownish-red; loral space, a band from the lower mandible over the cheek, and the throat, pale yellowish-red; a band of blackish-brown under the eye; extending to the ear-coverts, and another on the side of the throat; cervical tufts, with the feathers dark brown on the outer webs, pale yellowish-red and margined with dusky on the inner; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with yellow on the sides, with large transverse curved bands of greyish-brown; lower tail-coverts arranged in three series, dusky at the base, white at the end; tibial and tarsal feathers grey, obscurely and minutely banded with yellowish-brown. Female considerably smaller, without the crest, cervical tufts, or air-bags, but otherwise similar to the male.

Male, 18, 271/2.

Abundant from Texas throughout all the western prairies, to very high up the Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio. Almost extirpated in the Middle and Eastern Districts. Resident.

Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 104.

Tetrao Cupido, Bonap. Syn. p. 126.

Pinnated Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 662.

Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 490; v. v. p. 559.

**** Toes partially feathered. Tail graduated.

299. 5. Tetrao Urophasianus, Bonap. Pheasant-tailed Grouse. – Cock of the Plains

Plate CCCLXXI. Male and Female.

Male with bristle-feathers on the sides of the neck, on its lower part small, scale-like feathers; a large bare yellow space on each side, capable of being inflated; tail long, graduated, of twenty, stiffish, acuminate feathers. Upper parts light yellowish-brown, variegated with brownish-black, and yellowish-white; primary quills chocolate-brown, thin outer webs, and part of their inner margins mottled with yellowish-white; tail with about ten bands of yellowish-white on the outer webs, which are otherwise variegated like the back, the inner webs nearly plain brown; throat and fore part of neck whitish, longitudinally spotted with brownish-black; a narrow white band across the throat; sides of the neck, and fore part of breast pure white; sides variegated like the back; axillars and lower wing-coverts white; and part of breast and abdomen black; lower tail-coverts brownish-black, largely tipped with white; tibial and tarsal feathers brownish-grey, faintly barred with brown. Female much smaller, and differing in being destitute of the bare skin on the neck, the plumage entirely of ordinary texture, the tail less elongated, with the feathers less narrow; upper parts variegated as in the male, lower dull yellowish-grey, undulated and streaked with dusky; middle of breast brownish-black, lower tail-coverts tipped with white.

Male, 30, 36. Female, 22.

Rocky Mountains and Columbia River, northward. Once seen on the Missouri. Abundant. Partially migratory from high to low grounds in autumn and winter.

Tetrao urophasianus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 21.

Tetrao (Centrocercus) urophasianus. Cock of the Plains, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 358.

Cock of the Plains, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 666.

Cock of the Plains, Tetrao urophasianellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 503.

300. 6. Tetrao Phasianellus, Linn. Sharp-tailed Grouse

Plate CCCLXXXII. Male and Female.

A decurved crest of narrow feathers; a bare space on each side of the neck capable of being inflated; tail short, much graduated, of sixteen feathers, all of which are more or less concave, excepting the two middle ones along the inner edge, obliquely and abruptly terminated, the two middle projecting an inch beyond the next. Upper parts variegated with light yellowish-red, brownish-black, and white, the latter in terminal triangular, or guttiform spots on the scapulars and wing-coverts; quills greyish-brown, primaries with white spots on the outer web, secondaries tipped and barred with white; tail white, at the base variegated, the two middle feathers like the back; loral space, and a band behind the eye yellowish-white, a dusky streak under the eye; throat reddish-white, with dusky spots; fore parts and sides of neck barred with dusky and reddish-white; on the breast the dusky spots become first curved, and then arrow-shaped; and so continue narrowing on the hind part of the breast and part of the sides, of which the upper portion is barred; abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and axillars, white; tarsal feathers light brownish-grey, faintly barred with whitish. Female smaller, but similar to the male, with the tints duller.

Male, 171/2, 23.

Missouri, Lat. 41°, to Slave Lake, Lat. 61°. Rocky Mountains. Abundant on the Saskatchewan Plains. Accidental in the northern parts of Illinois. Resident.

Tetrao Phasianellus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 37.

Tetrao Phasianellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Tetrao (Centrocercus) Phasianellus, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 361.

Sharp-tailed Grouse. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 669.

Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tetrao Phasianellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 569.

GENUS II. LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with its dorsal outline decurved, the ridge indistinct and rounded, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip declinate, thin-edged, rounded; lower mandible, with the angle of moderate length and rounded, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the edges a little inclinate, the tip rounded; nasal sinuses large and covered with feathers, leaving the ridge narrow between them. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head small, ovate; neck rather long; body bulky. Feet rather short, stout; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, which have two or three terminal scutella; hind toe extremely short, lateral toes equal. Claws slightly arched, depressed, thin-edged, rounded. Plumage full and compact, the feathers rounded. Wings short, convex, the primaries strong, narrow, tapering, the third longest, the fourth and second little shorter. Tail short, nearly even, of more than twelve broad feathers.

301. 1. Lagopus albus, Gmel. Willow Ptarmigan. – Willow-Grouse

Plate CXCI. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill very thick, convex, with a strong ridge on each side of the lower mandible; claws (when entire) elongated, arched with the sides sloping, edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip rounded; tail short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. Bill black, claws dusky at the base, yellowish-grey on the edges and tip. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white, and with the base of the same colour. In summer, the male with the head and neck bright chestnut, more or less variegated with dusky; the upper parts and sides having the feathers brownish-black, transversely barred with reddish-yellow, and narrowly tipped with white; the quills and larger coverts, with most of the smaller, middle of breast, abdomen, and feet, white; tail as in winter, the middle incumbent feather like the back. Female similar, with the markings larger, the breast and abdomen coloured like the sides, the head and neck without chestnut. Young, when in down, of a yellowish tint, variegated above with large streaks of dark brown, the top of the head with a longitudinal patch of brown, edged with black. When fledged, the young resemble the female.

Male, 17, 261/2. Female, 16, 26.

In Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, during winter. Breeds plentifully in Newfoundland, Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Rocky Mountains.

Tetrao (Lagopus) saliceti, Willow Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 351.

Willow Grouse or Large Ptarmigan. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 674.

Willow Grouse, Tetrao saliceti, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 528.

302. 2. Lagopus Americanus, Aud. American Ptarmigan

Not figured.

Bill much narrower, with the ridge on each side of the lower mandible obsolete; claws (when entire) elongated, arched, with the sides sloping, the edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip round; tail short, even, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white; male with a black loral band, extending beyond the eye. In summer, the general colour of the upper parts, fore neck, and sides, reddish-yellow, finely undulated transversely with blackish-brown, and greyish-white; the bars on the head and neck larger; the two long incumbent tail-feathers similar to those of the back; the rest brownish-black, tipped with white; little white on the lower parts, and only in patches, some greyish-white undulations occasionally seen, tend to approximate the colouring to that of some specimens of Lagopus mutus of Scotland, but the prevailing tint is not grey, as in that species, but brownish-yellow. Young similar to the adult, with the bands larger; the fore part of the wings, the primaries, secondary coverts, and abdomen, white.

Male, 143/4, wing, 81/4.

Melville Island. Churchill River.

Tetrao lagopus, Sabine, Richardson, &c.

Tetrao (Lagopus) mutus, Ptarmigan, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 350.

Common Ptarmigan, Tetrao mutus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 196.

303. 3. Lagopus rupestris, Gmel. Rock Ptarmigan

Plate CCCLXVIII. Male and Female. Plate CCCCXVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill very short, thick, convex (stronger than that of L. americanus), with the ridges on the lower mandible faint; claws elongated, arched, with the sides sloping, the edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip narrowed, (broader than in L. albus). Tail short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. Bill black, claws dusky, with the edges and tip inclining to yellowish-grey. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brownish-black, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white, and with the base of the same colour. In summer, the plumage variegated with black, reddish-yellow, and white; the feathers being chiefly of the first colour, transversely and irregularly banded with reddish-yellow, and terminally margined with white; lower parts more broadly and regularly barred with brownish-black and light reddish-yellow; edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, nearly all the secondary coverts, primaries, and outer secondaries white, as are the lower surface of the wing, the axillars, and some of the feathers on the abdomen, as well as those on the feet, the latter tinged with yellowish; shafts of primaries brownish-black; tail as in winter, but with the lateral feather white on a great part of the outer web. Female similar, with the bands broader.

Male, 131/2, wing, 710/12.

Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Seas. Rocky Mountains. Abundant. Migratory.

Tetrao (Lagopus) rupestris, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 354.

Rock Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 610.

Rock Grouse, Tetrao rupestris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 483.

304. 4. Lagopus leucurus, Swains. White-tailed Ptarmigan

Plate CCCCXVIII. Adult in winter.

Claws slightly arched, depressed, broad, thin-edged, rather pointed; tail rather short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers. Plumage in winter entirely pure white. In summer, the head and neck barred with blackish-brown and brownish-white; upper parts blackish-brown, barred with reddish-yellow; breast, belly, and sides pale reddish-yellow, broadly barred with blackish-brown; tail white.

Tetrao (Lagopus) leucurus, White-tailed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii, p. 356.

White-tailed Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 612.

White-tailed Grouse, Tetrao leucurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 200.

FAMILY XXXIII. RALLINÆ. RAILS

Bill moderately stout, or slender, short or elongated, compressed, with the point narrow, but obtuse. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; toes very long, scutellate, marginate; hind toe rather short. Claws long, little arched, compressed, acute. Plumage blended, but stiffish. Wings short, convex, rounded, tail very short, rounded. Tongue slender, channelled above, tapering to a bristly point; œsophagus long, rather narrow; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the lateral and inferior muscles prominent, the epithelium dense, with two flattish grinding surfaces; intestine long, of moderate width; cœca long, narrowed toward the base; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, flattened, with a pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest bulky, and rudely constructed, on the ground, or supported by grass, or on trees. Eggs numerous, oblong. Young covered with stiffish black down.

GENUS I. GALLINULA, Briss. GALLINULE

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line beyond this slightly declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge gradually narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, oblong, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, fourth longer than second, third considerably longer, all scutellate. Claws very long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage blended, form and wings of moderate length, broad, convex, with the second and third quills longest; tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts almost as long.

305. 1. Gallinula Martinica, Linn. Purple Gallinule

Plate CCCV. Male.

Frontal plate blue; bill carmine, tipped with yellow; head, fore part of neck, and breast, purplish-blue; abdomen and tibial feathers dusky; sides and lower wing-coverts green; lower tail-coverts white; upper parts olivaceous green; sides of neck, and outer part of wings greenish-blue.

Male, 131/2, 211/2.

Breeds and resides from Texas to South Carolina. Stragglers seen as far as Massachusetts. Up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rather common in Louisiana and Florida.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Porphyrio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 67.

Gallinula martinica, Bonap. Syn. p. 336.

Purple Gallinule, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 221.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula martinica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 37.

306. 2. Gallinula Chloropus, Linn. Common Gallinule

Plate CCXLIV.

Frontal plate, eyes, ring on tibiæ, and bill carmine, the latter tipped with yellow; head, neck, and lower parts, greyish-black; abdomen greyish-yellow; lower tail-coverts and some streaks on the sides, with the edge of the wing, and the outer web of the first quill white; upper parts brownish-olive; quills and tail dusky. Female similar, with the frontal plate small. Young similar, but with the bill dull green, and the breast faintly barred with whitish.

Male, 14, 22.

From Texas to South Carolina, common, and resident. Stragglers are seen as far as Massachusetts. Abundant in Louisiana and Florida. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Fresh water.

Gallinula galeata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 128.

Florida Gallinule, Gallinula galeata, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 223.

Common Gallinule, Gallinula Chloropus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 330.

GENUS II. FULICA, Linn. COOT

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, linear, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length, slender; body full, compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, their margins dilated into flat lobes, the hind toe with a single inferior lobe. Claws of moderate length, slightly arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage, blended, soft. Wings short, broad, convex, with the second quill longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts nearly as long. Gizzard extremely muscular; cœca very long, being a fifth part of the length of the intestine.