A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

Sylvia maculosa, Bonap. Syn. p. 78.

Black-and-Yellow Warbler, Sylvia maculosa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 370.

Sylvicola maculosa, Yellow-rump Warbler, F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 213.

Black-and-Yellow Warbler, Sylvia maculosa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 145, Adult; v. i. p. 260, Young; v. v. p. 458.

97. 22. Sylvicola discolor, Vieill. Prairie Wood-Warbler

Plate XIV. Male and Female.

Wings rather short, with the outer four quills nearly equal, the second and third longest; tail emarginate and rounded. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, the back spotted with chestnut-red; lower parts, and a band over the eye, bright yellow; two bands of dull yellow on the wing; outer four tail-feathers with a white patch on the inner web; a small streak before and behind the eye, one on the cheek, a spot on the side of the neck, and oblong markings on the sides, black. Female similar, but paler, especially beneath, and without the black streaks on the side of the head.

Male, 5, 7.

From Texas to Massachusetts. Migratory. Abundant.

Prairie Warbler, Sylvia minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 87.

Sylvia discolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 83.

Prairie Warbler, Sylvia discolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 294.

Prairie Warbler, Sylvia discolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 76.

98. 23. Sylvicola montana, Wils. Blue-Mountain Warbler

Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 3. Male.

No bristles at the base of the bill; wings rather short, the third and fourth quills longest; tail much rounded. Upper parts light greenish-olive; a band across the forehead, one over the eye, the cheeks, throat, fore part and sides of neck bright yellow; the rest of the lower parts yellowish-white, the sides marked with narrow longitudinal dusky streaks; wings dusky brown, all the feathers edged with yellowish-white, the secondary quills more broadly, the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts tipped with white, forming two conspicuous bands; tail brownish-black, the feathers edged with yellowish-green, the two outer on each side white in their terminal half.

Male, 41/12, wing 26/12.

Blue Mountains. Only one individual seen.

Blue-Mountain Warbler, Sylvia montana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 113.

Sylvia tigrina, Bonap. Syn. p. 83; but not of Gmelin or Latham, as the figure of Edwards, to which reference is made, has the tail not rounded, but emarginate.

99. 24. Sylvicola agilis, Wils. Connecticut Wood Warbler. – Connecticut Warbler

Plate CXXXVIII. Male and Female.

Wings long, with the first quill longest, and exceeding the first secondary by eleven-twelfths of an inch; middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus; tail of moderate length, nearly even, with acuminate feathers. Male olive-green above; a ring of yellowish-white round the eye; the head, neck all round, and part of the breast ash-grey, the sides greyish-green; the rest of the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast tinged with brown.

Male, 53/4, 8.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Very rare. Migratory.

Connecticut Warbler, Sylvia agilis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 64.

Sylvia agilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 84.

Connecticut Warbler, Sylvia agilis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 399.

This species forms a connecting link between Sylvicola and Trichas, having the long pointed wings of the former, and the general appearance of the latter, which it resembles, especially in its tail, which is neither emarginate, nor marked with the white spots seen on that of almost all the other Sylvicolæ, but which do not exist in the genus Trichas. Some of the Sylvicolæ are, in like manner, assimilated to Myiodoctes, and others to Vermivora. Of the former may be mentioned, Sylvicola Auduboni and S. coronata; of the latter, S. Blackburniæ.

GENUS III. TRICHAS, Swains. GROUND-WARBLER

Bill of moderate length, similar in form to that of Sylvicola, differing only in being a little decurved. The general form does not differ materially from that of Sylvicola, the head being ovate and of moderate size, the neck short, the body rather slender; the feet of moderate length, slender; tarsus slender, much compressed, longer than the middle toe with its claw, anteriorly covered with eight scutella, of which the upper are blended; toes of moderate size, hind toe proportionally large, lateral toes equal, fourth adherent at the base; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather short, convex, considerably rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the fifth little shorter. Tail of moderate length, rounded, always plain, or without white spots.

100. 1. Trichas Macgillivrayi, Aud. Macgillivray's Ground-Warbler. – Macgillivray's Warbler

Plate CCCXCIX. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Wings rather short, the second quill longest, the fourth longer than the first, the tail long, considerably rounded, its feathers rounded; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. Male olive-green above; the head, hind part, and sides of the neck bluish-grey; the fore neck and part of the breast greyish-black, lunulated with greyish-white; a black loral band; a conspicuous white spot on each eyelid; the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast ash-grey.

Male, 51/4, 61/2. Female, 5, wing 24½/12.

Columbia River. Common.

Macgillivray's Warbler, Sylvia Macgillivrayi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 75.

101. 2. Trichas Philadelphia, Wils. Mourning Ground-Warbler. – Mourning Warbler

Wings of moderate length, with the second quill longest, the fourth shorter than the first; the tail long, considerably rounded, its feathers scarcely pointed; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. Male olive-green above, the head, hind part and sides of the neck, bluish-grey; the fore neck and part of the breast deep black, lunulated with white; a blackish loral band, margins of eyelids dusky grey; the lower parts bright yellow. Female olive-green above, yellow beneath, the sides of the neck and a band across the breast ash-grey, the throat yellowish-white.

Male, 5, 8.

New Jersey and Blue Mountains of Vermont. Rare. Migratory.

Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 101.

Sylvia Philadelphia, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.

Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 404.

Mourning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 79.

102. 3. Trichas Marilandica, Linn. Maryland Ground-Warbler. – Maryland Yellow-throat. Yellow-breasted Warbler

Plate XXIII. Male and Female. Plate XXIV. Young Male.

Wings rather short, with the third and fourth quills longest, fifth longer than second, first and sixth equal; tail considerably rounded, the lateral feathers being three-twelfths shorter than the middle. Male with a broad band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating in a rather pointed form behind the ear-coverts; over this band a narrow one of very pale blue, or bluish-white; upper parts yellowish-green, on the head slightly tinged with red; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown, margined with yellowish-green; the edge of the wing and the margin of the outer primary yellow; fore part of neck bright yellow, as is the anterior part of the breast and the lower tail-coverts, the rest pale, the sides shaded with dull yellowish-brown; the axillaries and some of the lower wing-coverts white. Female with the upper parts lighter, the lower less bright, tinged with reddish-brown, the head of pale brownish-red, without the bands so conspicuous in the male. Young similar to the female, the males with a black mystachial band.

Male, 43/4, 61/2.

From Texas northward to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior; Columbia River.

Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia Marilandica, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 88, Male; v. ii. p. 163, Female.

Sylvia Marilandica, Bonap. Syn. p. 85.

Maryland Yellow-throat, Nutt. Man. v. i.

Yellow-breasted Warbler, or Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia Trichas, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 121, Adult; v. v. p. 463.

Roscoe's Yellow-throat, Sylvia Roscoe, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 124. Young.

103. 4. Trichas Delafieldii, Aud. Delafield's Ground-Warbler

Wing rather long, much rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest, sixth longer than second, first and tenth about equal; tail much rounded, the lateral feathers being half an inch shorter than the middle. Male with a band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating on the ear-coverts; upper part of head light greyish-blue, tinged behind with green; the rest of the upper parts dull yellowish-green; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown on the inner webs, the edge of the wing and margin of the outer primary yellow; all the lower parts rich yellow, excepting the sides, which are shaded into dull greenish-yellow.

Male, 51/4, wing, 25/12.

North California.

Delafield's Yellow-throat, Sylvia Delafieldii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 307.

GENUS IV. HELINAIA, Aud. SWAMP-WARBLERS

Bill rather long, being nearly of the same length as the head, straight, or slightly decurved, tapering to a very acute point, much compressed; the upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the sides declinate and flat at the base, the edges somewhat inflected beyond the middle, the notch obsolete; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the edges involute, the tip extremely acute. Nostrils oblong; exposed. Feet of moderate length; tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw, slender, much compressed, with the upper scutella blended; toes slender; claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute, plumage soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather long, somewhat pointed, the outer three nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. – Name from [Greek: Helos], a swamp, and [Greek: Naiô], to inhabit.

104. 1. Helinaia Swainsonii, Aud. Swainson's Swamp-Warbler

Plate CXCVIII. Male.

Bill as long as the head, much compressed; wings rather long, second and third quills equal and longest; tail even; upper parts olive-brown, the head strongly tinged with red; lower parts and a band over the eye pale yellowish-grey, the feathers on the cheeks tipped with brown, the sides of the neck and body more grey, the abdomen whitish.

Male, 51/4, 81/2.

South Carolina to Massachusetts. Very rare. Migratory.

Swainson's Warbler, Sylvia Swainsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 568; v. v. p. 462.

105. 2. Helinaia vermivora, Lath. Worm-eating Swamp-Warbler

Plate XXXIV. Male and Female.

Bill nearly as long as the head, less compressed than in the last; wings rather long, second quill longest, first and third equal; tail very slightly rounded. Upper parts light olive-green; head and lower parts pale brownish-yellow, the former with four longitudinal black bands; throat and abdomen nearly white.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

From Texas northwards, and in the interior to the Missouri. Not very abundant. Migratory.

Worm-eating Warbler, Sylvia vermivora, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 74.

Sylvia vermivora, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.

Worm-eating Warbler, Sylvia vermivora, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 177; v. v. p. 460.

106. 3. Helinaia Protonotarius, Lath. Prothonotary Swamp-Warbler

Plate III. Male and Female.

Bill nearly as long as the head; first quill longest; tail even. Male with the head, neck, breast, and sides rich yellow, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; hind neck and fore part of back greenish-yellow, rump, tail-coverts, smaller wing-coverts and margin of the quills and tail-feathers light greyish-blue; the latter, except the middle, having the greater part of their inner webs white.

Male, 51/2, 81/2.

From Texas eastward to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Saskatchewan. Rather rare. Migratory.

Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 72.

Sylvia Protonotarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 86.

Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, v. i. p. 410.

Prothonotary Warbler, Sylvia Protonotarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 22; v. v. p. 460.

107. 4. Helinaia chrysoptera, Linn. Golden-winged Swamp-Warbler

Plate CCCCXIV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Bill slightly shorter than the head, tapering to an acute point; wings with the second and third quills equal and longest, the fourth and first about equal; tail even. Male light ash-grey above, greyish-white beneath; upper part of head, and a patch on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts, bright yellow; a band from the bill to the eye, continued under it, and including the ear-coverts, black, as is the throat; a white band from the upper mandible over the eye, and another from the lower mandible down the neck. Female with the tints less bright, the back tinged with green, the side of the head and the throat grey, and the white bands on the head narrower and less extended.

Male, 51/4, 75/8. Female, 5, 71/4.

From Texas to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Rather rare. Migratory.

Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 113.

Sylvia chrysoptera, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.

Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 411.

Golden-winged Warbler, Sylvia chrysoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 154.

108. 5. Helinaia Bachmanii, Aud. Bachman's Swamp-Warbler

Plate CLXXXV. Male and Female.

Bill nearly as long as the head, slightly decurved, much attenuated; outer four quills nearly equal, second longest, tail even. Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, the feathers of the crown black, with greyish margin; the hind neck grey; forehead, a line over the eye, cheeks, chin, sides of neck, flexure of wing, lower wing-coverts, and breast, yellow; sides greenish-grey, lower tail-coverts white; a patch of black, enlarging beneath, on the fore neck; quills and tail greyish-brown; a patch of white on each of the tail-feathers, excepting the middle. Female with the tints fainter, the forehead yellowish-green, the fore neck dusky.

Male, 41/12, 61/4. Female, 310/12.

South Carolina. Rare. Migratory.

Bachman's Warbler, Sylvia Bachmanii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 483.

109. 6. Helinaia carbonata, Aud. Carbonated Swamp-Warbler

Plate LX. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, straight, very acute; wing with the second quill longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper part of the head black; fore part of back, smaller wing-coverts, and sides dusky green, spotted with black; a line over the eye, the sides of the neck, throat, the rest of the lower parts, and the rump yellow.

Male, 43/4.

Kentucky. Only two specimens procured. Migratory.

Carbonated Warbler, Sylvia carbonata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 308.

110. 7. Helinaia peregrina, Wils. Tennessee Swamp-Warbler

Plate CLIV. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, straight, very acute; wing with the second and third quills longest; tail nearly even. Upper parts yellowish-olive, the head darker; lower parts cream-coloured, fading behind into white; a pale yellow line over the eye; quills and tail-feathers dusky, the primaries margined with whitish, the secondaries with greenish-yellow.

Male, 41/2, 8.

Florida to New York, and in the interior to Kentucky. Rare. Migratory.

Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 83.

Sylvia peregrina, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.

Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 412.

Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 307.

111. 8. Helinaia solitaria, Wils. Blue-winged Yellow Swamp-Warbler

Plate XX. Male and Female.

Bill shorter than the head, straightish, very acute; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail nearly even. Forehead, crown, and lower parts bright yellow; hind part of the head, neck, and back light green, rump greenish-yellow; lore black; wings and tail greyish-blue, the feathers margined with greyish-white; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts; tail-feathers, except the middle, with a patch of white on the inner web. Young with the upper parts, including the forehead, yellowish-green, the lower pale greenish-yellow.

Male, 43/4, 7.

From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior, to Kentucky. Rather rare. Migratory.

Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 109.

Sylvia solitaria, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.

Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Sylvia solitaria, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 410.

Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, Sylvia solitaria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 102.

112. 9. Helinaia celata, Say. Orange-crowned Swamp-Warbler

Plate CLXXVIII. Male and Female.

Bill shorter than the head, very much attenuated; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail even. Male with the upper parts dull green, the rump yellowish-green; a patch of dull reddish-orange on the crown, concealed by the grey tips of the feathers; lower parts dull olivaceous yellow; lower tail-coverts light yellow; quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, edged with yellowish-green. Female similar, with the orange on the crown duller. Young with the lower parts paler, and without red on the head.

This species and the next seem to form the transition from the Sylvicolinæ to the Reguli, as Mniotilta varia does to the Certhiæ.

Male, 51/2, 711/12.

In summer from Texas to Nova Scotia. Winters in the southern states. Columbia River. Rather common.

Sylvia celata, Say, Long's Exped. v. i. p. 169.

Sylvia celata, Bonap. Syn. p. 38.

Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 45.

Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 413.

Orange-crowned Warbler, Sylvia celata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 449.

113. 10. Helinaia rubricapilla, Wils. Nashville Swamp-Warbler

Plate LXXXIX. Male and Female.

Bill shorter than the head, very much attenuated; wings with the outer four quills almost equal, the second longest; tail slightly emarginate. Upper part of the head, cheeks, hind part and sides of neck light bluish-grey; a patch of dull red on the crown, concealed by the grey tips of the feathers; upper parts of the body yellowish-green, lower parts greenish-yellow; quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, edged with yellowish-green, the primaries with greyish-white. Female similar but paler, and with faint indications of red on some of the feathers on the crown. Young similar to the female.

Male, 41/2, 7.

Texas to Massachusetts. Inland to Kentucky. Columbia River. Rare. Migratory.

Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla. Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 120.

Sylvia rubricapilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 87.

Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 412.

Nashville Warbler, Sylvia rubricapilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 450.

GENUS V. MNIOTILTA, Vieill. CREEPING-WARBLER

Bill rather long, straight, very slender, nearly as broad as high at the base, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the edges a little inflected toward the end, the notches obsolete, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip attenuated. General form slender. Feet of moderate length, very slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, much compressed, the upper scutella blended; toes rather long, extremely compressed, the first very long, the second shorter than the third, which is adherent at the base, claws rather long, well arched, extremely compressed, and acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings long, with the second and third quills longest and about equal, the first slightly shorter, and exceeding the fourth. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. This genus connects the Sylvicolinæ with the Certhianæ.

114. 1. Mniotilta varia, Linn. Black-and-white Creeping Warbler

Plate XC. Male.

Male with the plumage white, variegated with glossy black, longitudinally disposed; a band along the middle of the head and hind neck, a streak over the eyes, a band along the sides of the neck, two bars on the wings, the middle of the breast and abdomen, with a patch at the end of the outer two tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts similar, but with the black less deep, the lower parts greyish-white, the sides and lower tail-coverts marked with black. Young light brownish-grey above, paler beneath, with the abdomen white.

Male, 51/2, 71/2.

Generally distributed. Migratory.

Black-and-white Creeper, Certhia varia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 23.

Sylvia varia, Bonap. Syn. p. 81.

Black-and-white Creeper, Certhia varia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 452; v. v. p. 471.

FAMILY IX. CERTHIANÆ. CREEPERS

Bill of moderate length or rather long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex or arched, the ridge narrow, the notches slight or obsolete, lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Head moderate, ovate; neck short, body slender. Feet of moderate length, or rather short; tarsus about the same length as the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior scutella, toes of moderate length, much compressed, hind toe proportionally long, outer adherent at the base; claws rather long, extremely compressed, arched, acute. Wings short or of moderate length. Tail of twelve feathers, generally much rounded. Tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, very narrow, tapering to a lacerated point. Œsophagus of moderate width, without crop; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach of moderate size, oblong, or elliptical, moderately muscular, with the muscles distinct; epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short, rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. CERTHIA, Linn. TREE-CREEPER

Bill about the same length as the head, very slender, arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping at the base, nearly erect in the rest of their extent, the edges sharp, arched, without notch, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the outline decurved, the sides erect and convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute. Nostrils linear-oblong, operculate. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Feet rather short, very slender, tarsus rather shorter than the middle toe, very slender, much compressed; toes extremely compressed; the first comparatively large, longer than the middle toe, including the claw; the inner toe shorter than the outer; claws long, moderately arched, slender, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long. Plumage long, loose, very soft. Bristles obsolete. Wings of moderate length, very broad; the first quill very short, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail long, graduated, of twelve moderately stiff pointed feathers.

115. 1. Certhia familiaris, Linn. Brown Tree-Creeper

Plate CCCCXV. Male and Female.

Upper parts reddish-brown, the head darker, the rump light brownish-red; all the feathers with a central dull whitish streak; wings deep brown, the coverts tipped, the secondaries barred at the base with dull yellow, of which a broad band, in the midst of a brownish-black space, crosses both webs of the quills, excepting the inner webs of the outer four, and the outer webs of the outer three; most of the quills also with a greyish-yellow patch along the outer web toward the tip, which is dull white; tail-feathers yellowish-brown; with shafts of a lighter tint, the webs darker toward the end; a silvery white band over the eye; cheeks dark brown; lower parts silvery white, sides tinged with brown.