A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

In size, form, and proportion, this species and Sylvicola coronata are almost precisely similar; and their colours are almost exactly alike, the only remarkable difference in this respect being, that the throat of the present species is yellow, while that of the former is white.

Male, 53/4, wing, 31/12.

Columbia River, northward. Common. Migratory.

Sylvia Audubonii, Audubon's Warbler, Townsend, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc., Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.

Audubon's Warbler, Sylvia Audubonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 52.

78. 3. Sylvicola striata, Lath. Black-poll Wood-Warbler

Plate CXXXIII. Male and Female.

First and second quills equal and longest, third a little shorter; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, streaked with black; the upper part of the head deep black; the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; primaries narrowly edged with greenish-yellow, secondaries broadly with white; three outer tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web at the end; cheeks and lower parts white; a band of black spots from the base of the lower mandible down the side of the neck and body. Female with the upper parts oil-green, streaked with black; the rump and upper tail-coverts plain and edged with grey; white wing-bands tinged with yellow; cheeks yellowish-grey, mottled with dusky, lower parts dull white, tinged with yellow and reddish the sides of the neck and body with fainter dark streaks. Young like the female.

Male, 51/4, 81/2.

From Texas to Labrador, where it breeds. Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 40.

Sylvia striata, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.

Sylvicola striata, Black-poll Warbler, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 218.

Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 383.

Black-poll Warbler, Sylvia striata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 201.

79. 4. Sylvicola pensilis, Lath. Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler

Plate LXXXV. Male.

Outer three quills almost equal, second quill longest, fourth shorter than first; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts light greyish-blue; the forehead black, the crown spotted with the same; a white line over the eye; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills greyish-black, margined with light greyish-blue; tail-feathers of the same colour, the outer three with a patch of white on the inner web at the end; loral space, a band under the eye, ear-coverts, a band down the side of the neck, and numerous oblong spots on the sides of the body, black; throat bright yellow; rest of lower parts white. Female similar, but with the tints paler.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

From Texas to New Jersey. In the interior along the Mississippi to Natchez. Common. Migratory.

Yellow-throated Warbler, Sylvia flavicollis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 64.

Sylvia pensilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.

Yellow-throated Warbler, Sylvia pensilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 434.

80. 5. Sylvicola castanea, Wils. Bay-breasted Wood-Warbler. – Bay-breasted Warbler

Plate LXIX. Male and Female.

Outer three quills almost equal, fourth considerably shorter; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head, the fore neck, and the sides, chestnut-red; forehead and cheeks, including a small space over the eye, deep black, behind which is a transverse patch of yellowish-white on the sides of the neck; back bluish ash-grey, streaked with black; tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts white; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black edged with grey, the outer three of the latter with a white patch on the inner web near the end; middle of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, white, tinged with reddish. Female similar to the male, but with the tints fainter, especially the chestnut of the head and throat, which are converged into light brownish-red.

Male, 51/4, 11.

From Texas northward. Rather common. Migratory.

Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 97.

Sylvia castanea, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.

Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 382.

Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 358.

81. 6. Sylvicola icterocephala, Lath. Chestnut-sided Wood-Warbler. – Chestnut-sided Warbler

Plate LIX. Male and Female.

Outer three quills nearly equal, second slightly longer; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head light yellow, a small part of the forehead white; loral space and two bands proceeding from it, one over and behind the eye, the other downwards, black; upper parts bluish ash-grey, tinged behind with greenish-yellow, and streaked with black; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with pale yellow; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, primaries edged with greyish-white, secondaries with yellowish-green; outer three tail-feathers on each side with a white patch on the inner web at the end; lower parts white, sides of the neck and body deep chestnut. Female similar, but with the chestnut on the sides less extended, and the yellow on the head tinged with green.

Male, 51/4, 8.

From Texas northward. Rather common. Migratory.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 99.

Sylvia icterocephala, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 380.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 806.

82. 7. Sylvicola pinus, Lath. Pine-creeping Wood-Warbler

Plate CXI. Male and Female. Plate XXX. Young Male.

Wings of moderate length, with the outer three quills almost equal, the first and second longest; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts light yellowish-green, inclining to olive, the rump brighter; a streak over the eye, the eyelids, throat, breast, and sides, bright yellow, with a greenish tinge, the rest of the lower parts white; wings and tail blackish-brown; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with dull white; primaries edged with whitish, secondaries with brownish-grey; outer two tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web near the end. Female with the upper parts yellowish-brown tinged with grey, the lower parts of paler and duller tints than in the male. Young similar to the female.

Male, 5, 8.

From Texas to Maine. Very abundant. Resident in the Southern and Middle States.

Pine Creeping Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 25.

Sylvia pinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.

Pine Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 387.

Pine Creeping Warbler, Sylvia pinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 232.

Vigors's Warbler, Sylvia Vigorsii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 153. Young.

83. 8. Sylvicola parus, Wils. Hemlock Warbler

Plate CXXXIV. Male and Female. Plate LXXXVIII. Young.

Wings of moderate length, with the outer two quills almost equal, the first longest, the third little shorter; tail very slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, spotted with dusky, the head greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown; primaries narrowly edged with greenish-white, secondaries broadly with white; outer two tail-feathers with the greater part white; a bright yellow streak over the eye; a dusky band on the lore and behind the eye; fore neck and breast bright yellow, the rest of the lower parts white, the sides streaked with black. Female similar to the male, but rather paler. Young with the upper parts light olive-brown; a pale line over the eye, which is encircled by a narrow line of whitish; wings and tail dark brown, the former with two brownish-white bands, the quills edged with brownish-white, the two outer tail-feathers with a white patch on the inner web; the lower parts dull white, tinged on the neck with yellow, on the sides with greyish-brown.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

Middle districts. Rather common. Migratory.

Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia parus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 114. Male.

Autumnal Warbler, Sylvia autumnalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 65. Young.

Sylvia parus, Bonap. Syn. p. 82.

Sylvia autumnalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 74.

Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia parus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 205. Adult.

Autumnal Warbler, Sylvia autumnalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 447.

84. 9. Sylvicola virens, Lath. Black-throated Green Wood-Warbler

Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Outer three quills almost equal, second very slightly longer; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts very light yellowish-green; the anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, and the sides of the neck, bright yellow; the fore part of the neck, anterior part of the sides, and some spots on the hind parts of the latter, black; the rest of the lower parts white, partially tinged with yellow; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white, quills margined with greyish-white, as are the tail-feathers, of which the greater part of the outer three, and a patch on the inner web of the fourth, are white. Female with the upper parts similar, but with less yellow on the forehead; ear-coverts greenish; the yellow band over the eye less bright, the yellow on the sides of the neck of less extent; the lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides streaked with dusky.

Male, 410/12, wing, 21/2. Female, 41/2, wing, 25½/12.

From Texas to Newfoundland. Abundant. Migratory.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Sylvia virens, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 127.

Sylvia virens, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 376.

Black-throated Green Warbler, Sylvia virens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 70.

85. 10. Sylvicola maritima, Wils. Cape May Wood-Warbler

Plate CCCCXIV. Male and Female.

Wings pointed, first quill longest, the second a quarter of a twelfth shorter, the third a twelfth shorter; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head and fore part of the back yellowish-olive, streaked with black; the rump, throat, and a collar scarcely meeting behind, yellow; ear-coverts and a band over the eye yellowish-red, loral space paler; a white patch on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts and the outer edges of the secondary coverts; quills and tail-feathers blackish-brown, edged with dull greyish-white, the secondaries more broadly; tail-feathers edged with yellow at the base, the outer three with a white patch on the inner web near the end; lower parts yellow, streaked with black, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white, the latter tinged with yellow. Female similar to the male, with the tints duller, the dusky streaks on the upper parts very faint, the rump greenish-yellow, the ear-coverts dull yellow, the white of the abdomen more extended, and the black streaks on the breast less distinct.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

New Jersey, and Blue Mountains of Vermont. Exceedingly rare.

Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 99.

Sylvia maritima, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.

Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 156.

Cape May Warbler, Sylvia maritima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 156.

86. 11. Sylvicola cœrulea, Wils. Cœrulean Wood-Warbler

Plate XLVIII. Males. Plate XLIX. Young Male.

Wings long, with the outer three quills nearly equal, the first and second longest; tail slightly emarginate, upper parts of a fine light blue, brighter on the head, the back marked with longitudinal streaks of blackish; a narrow band of black from the forehead along the lore to behind the eye; two conspicuous white bands on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; quills black, margined with pale blue; tail-feathers black, edged with blue, all with a white patch on the inner web near the end; lower parts white, with a band of dark bluish-grey across the fore neck, and oblong spots of the same along the sides. Female with the upper parts light bluish-green, the lower and a streak over the eye very pale yellow. Young of both sexes like the female.

Male, 41/2, 8.

From Texas to Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Rather common. Migratory.

Cœrulean Warbler, Sylvia cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 141. Male.

Blue-green Warbler, Sylvia rara, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 119. Young.

Sylvia azurea, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.

Sylvia rara, Bonap. Syn. p. 82.

Cœrulean Warbler, Sylvia azurea, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 27. Female.

Azure Warbler, Sylvia azurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 255, Male; v. v. p. 456.

Blue-green Warbler, Sylvia rara, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 258. Young Male.

87. 12. Sylvicola Blackburniæ, Lath. Blackburnian Wood-Warbler. – Blackburnian Warbler

Plate CXXXV. Male. Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 3. Female.

Outer three quills nearly equal, first generally longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male black above, streaked with white; a small patch on the top of the head, a band from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, passing down the neck and curving forwards, and a small band under the eye, orange-yellow; lore and a patch behind the eye black; quills black, the outer margined with grey, the inner with white, of which there is a large patch on the wing, including the inner secondary coverts, and the tips of the outer, with those of the first row of small coverts; three outer tail-feathers on each side white, excepting an oblong portion toward the end, the next also partially white; throat and fore part of breast rich reddish-orange; breast dull yellow, the rest white; the sides of the neck and body streaked with black. Female with the upper parts light olivaceous, each feather dusky in the centre, the other parts as in the male, but the tints much paler, the spot on the top of the head greenish-yellow, the feathers tipped with dusky, the band over the eye pale yellow, that on the lore and ear-coverts brown, the fore part of the neck yellow, and the sides less strongly streaked than black.

Male, 43/4, 73/4. Female, 48/12, wing 27½/12.

From Texas northward. Rather rare. Migratory.

Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 67.

Sylvia Blackburniæ, Bonap. Syn. p. 80.

Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 379.

Blackburnian Warbler, Sylvia Blackburniæ, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 208; v. v. p. 78.

88. 13. Sylvicola æstiva, Gmel. Yellow-Poll Warbler

Plate XCV. Male. Plate XXXV. Young Male and Female.

Outer four quills nearly equal, second longest; tail emarginate. Male with the upper parts pale yellowish-green, the rump greenish-yellow, the fore part of the head, cheeks, throat, sides of the neck and lower parts pure yellow, the breast and sides streaked with brownish-red; feathers of the wings deep brown, primaries margined with yellowish-green, secondaries, their coverts, and the first row of small coverts with yellow; tail-feathers brown, with the greater part of the inner webs and a portion of the outer yellow, excepting the middle two. Female similar, but with the colours less bright, and the streaks on the breast and sides obsolete. Young with the upper parts yellowish-green, tinged with brown, forehead, sides of head, and lower parts deep yellow.

Male, 43/4, 8.

From Texas northward, and throughout the interior. Abundant. Migratory.

Blue-eyed Warbler, Sylvia citrinella, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 111.

Sylvia æstiva, Bonap. Syn. p. 83.

Yellow-poll Warbler, Sylvia æstiva, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 476. Adult Male.

Children's Warbler, Sylvia Childrenii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 180. Young.

89. 14. Sylvicola Rathbonii, Aud. Rathbone's Wood-Warbler

Plate LXV. Male and Female.

Wings of ordinary length, the second quill longest; tail nearly even. The general colour of the plumage bright yellow, the upper parts olivaceous; quills and tail wood-brown, the former yellow on the outer web, the latter margined externally with the same. Female similar.

Male, 41/2.

Mississippi. Only one pair seen.

Rathbone Warbler, Sylvia Rathbonia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 333.

90. 15. Sylvicola petechia, Lath. Yellow Red-poll Wood-Warbler

Plate CLXIII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Young Male.

Plate CLXIV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Wings of ordinary length, with the outer three quills almost equal, the second longer than the first, which slightly exceeds the fourth; tail emarginate. Male with the crown of the head deep brownish-red, the upper parts yellowish-olive, streaked with brown, the rump greenish-yellow, without streaks; quills dusky brown, primaries edged with whitish, secondaries with yellowish; tail feathers dusky brown, margined with greenish-yellow, the outer two with a white patch on the inner web at the end, sometimes the outer white on both webs at the end; a bright yellow streak from the nostril over the eye; lore dusky; ear-coverts brownish-red; lower parts yellow, the sides of the neck, its lower part, and the sides of the body, streaked with deep red. Female similar to the male, but with the tints duller and paler, the red of the head scarcely apparent, and the fore-neck very faintly streaked. Young dull light greenish-brown, tinged with grey, the head streaked with dusky; lower parts yellowish-grey, the sides of the neck and body, with the breast, faintly streaked with greyish-brown.

Male, 41/2, 81/2.

From Texas northward. Very abundant. Spends the winter in all the Southern States.

Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 19.

Sylvia petechia, Bonap. Syn. p. 83; S. palmarium, p. 78.

Sylvicola petechia, Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Swain. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 215.

Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 364.

Yellow Red-poll Warbler, Sylvia petechia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 259, Adult Male and Young; p. 360, Adult Male and Female.

91. 16. Sylvicola Americana, Lath. Blue Yellow-backed Wood-Warbler, – Yellow-backed Warbler, – Blue Yellow-back Warbler

Plate XV. Male and Female.

Bill much attenuated; outer three quills nearly equal, first or second longest; tail almost even, with the feathers pointed. Male with the upper parts light blue, the fore part of the back yellowish-green; two broad bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with blue; a white spot on the outer three of the latter; loral space black; both eyelids with a white spot; throat yellow, with whitish patches, a lunular band of blackish on the fore neck; breast yellow, spotted with dull orange, the rest of the lower parts yellowish, fading into white, the sides pale greyish-blue. Female similar but paler; the loral band wanting; throat, fore neck, and breast yellow, without the black lunule.

Although the bill of this species is much attenuated, it is not essentially different in form from that of S. Blackburniæ, and others of this genus; the wings are similar to those of the rest, and there seems no reason for setting it apart to form a genus, as has been done by Bonaparte.

Male, 41/6, 61/2.

From Texas, generally distributed. Exceedingly abundant. Migratory.

Blue Yellow-back Warbler, Sylvia pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 17.

Sylvia Americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 33.

Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, Sylvia Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 78.

92. 17. Sylvicola Townsendi, Nutt. Townsend's Wood-Warbler

Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 1. Male.

Wings of moderate length, rather pointed, with the second and third quills longest, the first and second nearly equal and very little shorter; tail scarcely emarginate. Upper parts light greenish-olive, more yellow behind, all the feathers dusky in the centre; cheeks, ear-coverts, and throat black; a band over the eye, a broader band on the side of the neck, and the fore part of the breast bright yellow; the rest of the lower parts white, but the sides marked with oblong dusky spots; wings blackish-brown; the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with white, the quills margined with light grey; tail-feathers blackish-brown, edged with grey; outer two on each side almost entirely white, the next with a small white spot.

Male, 410/12, wing 28/12.

Columbia River, northward. Migratory.

Sylvia Townsendi, Townsend's Warbler, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 191.

Townsend's Warbler, Sylvia Townsendi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 36.

93. 18. Sylvicola occidentalis, Towns. Hermit Wood-Warbler

Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Wings of moderate length, the outer three quills almost equal, the third longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish-grey, spotted with black; the upper part of the head, which is similarly spotted, the cheeks, and sides of the neck, bright yellow; throat black; breast and abdomen white; ground and tail-feathers greyish-dusky; two white bands on the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; two outer tail-feathers on each side almost entirely white. Female with the upper parts of a duller grey, the yellow of the head less extended and not so bright; throat whitish, spotted with dusky.

Male, 35/12, wing 28/12.

Columbia River. Migratory.

Sylvicola occidentalis, Hermit Wood-Warbler, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.

Hermit Warbler, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 55.

94. 19. Sylvia nigrescens, Towns. Black-throated Grey Wood-Warbler

Plate CCCXCV. Figs. 5 and 6. Male.

Wings of moderate length, with the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest, the first shorter than the fourth; tail slightly rounded and emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, the middle of the back and tail-coverts streaked with black; the upper part of the head and neck, the loral space and cheeks, and the fore part of the neck, with a small portion of the breast black; a band from the nostril to near the eye yellow; a band over the eye, and another from the lower mandible along the side of the neck white; breast and abdomen white, the sides tinged with grey, and streaked with black; wings blackish-brown, with two white bands formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; quills edged with light grey; tail blackish-brown, the two outer feathers on each side almost entirely white, the next with a white patch on the inner web.

Male, 5, wing 28/12.

Columbia River. Migratory.

Sylvia nigrescens, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 191.

Black-throated Grey Warbler, Sylvia nigrescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 57.

95. 20. Sylvicola canadensis, Linn. Canada or Black-throated Blue Wood-Warbler

Plate CLV. Male. Plate CXLVIII. Female and Young.

Wings rather long, with the third quill longest, the second almost equal, the fourth longer than the first; tail even. Male dull light blue above, white beneath; frontal band, cheeks, throat, and sides, black; a white patch on the wing formed by the bases of the primaries; outer three tail-feathers with a patch of white on the inner web near the end, all the rest with a touch of the same. Female greenish-olive above, light dull-yellow below, with a less extended white patch on the wing, the white on the tail unconspicuous. Young similar to the female.

Male, 5, 71/2.

From Texas northward. Migratory. Abundant.

Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 334.