277. 22. Picus Mexicanus, Swains. Red-shafted Woodpecker
Plate CCCCXVI. Fig. 5. Male. Fig. 6. Female.
Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown; forehead and a band over the eye dull red; sides and fore part of neck ash-grey, with an oblong patch of bright carmine on each side of the throat; back, scapulars, and secondaries light reddish-brown, transversely spotted with black; rump white; upper tail-coverts black, barred with white; primaries blackish-brown, tail-feathers black, their shafts vermilion; lower parts reddish-white, spotted with black, of which there is a semilunar patch on the fore part of the breast; lower wing-coverts, and inner webs of quills of roseate tints; lower surface of quills and tail-feathers orange-red, inclining to vermilion, the tail black toward the end.
Male, 131/2, wing, 610/12. Female, 13.
Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and northward to the Saskatchewan. Abundant. Migratory.
Colaptes mexicanus, Swains. Synop. Birds of Mex. Phil. Mag. N. 84.
Colaptes mexicanus, Red-shafted Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 315.
Red-shafted Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 603.
Red-shafted Woodpecker, Picus mexicanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 314.
FAMILY XXVII. CUCULINÆ. CUCKOOS
Bill long or of moderate length, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, straight or somewhat arched; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex or arched, the ridge indistinct, the sides convex, the edges arched, sharp, without notch, the tip decurved; lower mandible with the angle rather short, the dorsal line straight or decurved, the ridge thin, the sides erect or convex, the tip slightly decurved, acute. Nostrils basal, oblong, generally marginate. Head of moderate size; neck of ordinary length; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus with broad scutella; toes long, slender, flat beneath, outer directed outwards or backwards. Claws long or of moderate length, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage blended; wings generally long, with the first quill short, the third and fourth longest. Tail long, of ten feathers; upper mandible very narrow beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue slender, emarginate, and papillate at the base, the tip horny, thin, lacerated, and slit; œsophagus rather wide, without dilatation; stomach large, round, with the muscular coat very thin, the epithelium soft, rugous; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca long, oblong, narrowed at the base. Trachea simple, with a single very slender pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. COCCYZUS, Vieill. AMERICAN CUCKOO
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched, the ridge rounded, the sides erect toward the end, the edges thin, direct, the tip narrow, decurved; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, rather wider, the dorsal line decurved toward the end, the sides nearly erect, the edges decurved, the tip narrow; the nostrils small, oblong, operculate. Eyelids bare, except at the margin. Head rather small; neck of moderate length; body slender. Feet rather short; tarsus compressed, rather stout, with seven very broad scutella; toes slender, compressed, anterior united at the base, first small. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended, somewhat compact on the back. Wings of moderate length, with the first quill very short, the third and fourth longest. Tail very long, cuneate or graduated.
278. 1. Coccyzus Americanus, Linn. Yellow-billed American Cuckoo. – Rain Crow. Cow-bird
Plate II. Male and Female.
Bill brownish-black above, with the margin of the upper, and nearly the whole of the lower mandible yellow; margin of the eye yellow; upper parts light greenish-brown, with a tinge of grey on the head; lower parts silvery white; quills with the inner webs brownish-orange; middle tail-feathers like the back, glossed with green, the rest brownish-black, all tipped with white, that colour gradually enlarging to the outer, which, besides, has nearly the whole outer web white.
Male, 121/2, 16. Female, 113/4, 151/2.
Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior, to the eastern bar of the Rocky Mountains. Common. Many spend the winter in the Floridas.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 13.
Coccyzus americanus, Bonap. Syn. p. 42.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 551.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 18; v. v. p. 520.
279. 2. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Wils. Black-billed American Cuckoo. – Rain-Crow. Cuckoo-Bird
Plate XXXII. Male and Female.
Bill black; margin of the eye blue, before and behind bright red; upper parts light greenish-brown; lower parts silvery-white, the breast and sides faintly tinged with yellow; quills with the inner webs pale buff toward the base; tail-feathers like the back, tipped with white.
Male, 111/2, 15.
From Texas to Nova Scotia, and in the interior to Kentucky. Rather common. Migratory.
Black-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus erythrophthalmus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 15.
Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Bonap. Syn. p. 42.
St. Domingo Cuckoo, Coccyzus dominicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 556.
Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 170; v. v. p. 523.
280. 3. Coccyzus Seniculus, Lath. Mangrove American Cuckoo
Plate CLXIX. Male.
Upper mandible, and the tip and edges of the lower black, the rest yellow; upper parts light greenish-brown, with a tinge of grey on the head; lower parts brownish-orange; inner webs of quills uniform with the rest; middle tail-feathers like the back, the rest brownish-black, tipped with white, that colour gradually enlarging to the outer.
Male, 12, 15.
Florida Keys. Common. Migratory.
Mangrove Cuckoo, Coccyzus Seniculus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 558.
Mangrove Cuckoo, Coccyzus Seniculus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 390.
FAMILY XXVIII. PSITTACINÆ. PARROTS
Bill short, bulging, very strong, deeper than broad, convex above and below; upper mandible cerate at the base, its outline decurved, the sides convex, the edges sharp, with an angular process, the tip trigonal, decurved, elongated, acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the tip thin-edged, rounded, or abrupt. Nostrils basal, round, open, in the cere. Head very large; neck of moderate length; body compact. Feet short and robust; tarsus short, scaly; toes stout, the outer directed backwards, the third and fourth coherent at the base. Claws stout, curved, acute. Plumage generally blended, but firm. Wings and tail various. Tongue short, fleshy, rounded, or emarginate; œsophagus wide, with a large crop; stomach small, muscular; intestine of moderate length; cœca small; cloaca globular.
GENUS I. CENTURUS, Kuhl. PARRAKEET
Bill short, very strong, bulging; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the sides convex, the edges ascending at the base, then direct, with a deep notch, the tip decurved, acute; lower mandible very deep at the base, with the dorsal line convex and ascending, the tip sharp-edged and truncate. The nostrils basal, round. Feet short, stout; tarsus very short; toes of moderate length, stout; claws strong, curved, acute. Plumage blended, compact on the wings, which are long and pointed, with the second quill longest. Tail long, cuneate.
281. 1. Centurus Carolinensis, Linn. Carolina Parrakeet
Plate XXVI. Male, Female, and Young.
Fore part of the head and cheeks bright carmine, that colour extending over and behind the eyes, the rest of the head and neck pure bright yellow; upper parts emerald-green, with light blue reflections, lower parts lighter; edge of wing yellow, primary coverts deep bluish-green, secondary coverts yellowish-green; quills with the inner webs dusky, the outer yellow at the base, blue toward the end; tail green; tibial feathers yellow, the lowest bright red. Young with the head green.
Male, 14, 22.
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and up the Mississippi to Kentucky. Abundant. Resident.
Psittacus carolinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 141.
Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 89.
Psittacus carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 41.
Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 545.
Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 135.
FAMILY XXIX. COLUMBINÆ. PIGEONS
Bill short, soft for half its length, horny toward the end; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, its dorsal line straight, toward the end convex and deflected, the tip narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible at its base wider than the upper, its sides elastic and slender, the angle long and obtuse, the dorsal line short and convex, the tip obtuse. Nostrils linear in the lower and fore part of the nasal membrane. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet short; tarsus partially feathered, scutellate, or scaly; toes four, on the same level, broad beneath, marginate; the first short, the lateral nearly equal, all scutellate above. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather blunt. Plumage generally compact, the feathers with thick spongy shaft, and destitute of plumule. Wings and tail various. Tongue rather broad at the base, toward the end narrow, horny, induplicate, pointed; œsophagus very wide, enlarged into an enormous crop; stomach a very large and strong gizzard, placed obliquely, its lateral muscles exceedingly thick, the lower prominent, the tendons very large, the epithelium dense, with longitudinal broad rugæ, and two opposite grinding surfaces; intestine long, of moderate width; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, flattened, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest flat, rudely constructed. Eggs two, elliptical, white.
GENUS I. COLUMBA, Linn. DOVE
Bill straight, rather short, slender, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight at the base, convex toward the end, the nostrils linear, oblique, covered with a fleshy bare membrane, the edges sharp toward the end, with a distinct notch, the tip narrow, sharp-edged, rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and pointed, the sides erect, the base sloping outwards toward the end, the edges sharp, the tip narrow, but blunt. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet short, strong; tarsus very short, roundish, with a single row of scutella above, and two anterior rows of large hexagonal scales; toes beneath rather slender, broad and flat beneath, marginate, with large scutella; hind toe smallest, lateral about equal. Claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath; wings long, pointed, the second and third quills longest. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.
282. 1. Columba fasciata, Say. Band-tailed Dove
Plate CCCLXVII. Male and Female.
Wings long, the second quill longest, the first with the outer web narrower at the base than beyond the middle; tail of moderate length, rounded. Head, fore neck, and breast, light reddish-purple, that colour fading on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts into whitish; a narrow half-ring of white on the hind neck, the lower part of which is of a metallic greenish-brown tint; upper parts greyish-blue, tinted with brown; rump and sides of the body blue; quills brownish-black, very narrowly margined with brownish-white; tail greyish-blue at the base, much paler, and tinged with yellow toward the end, these colours being separated at the distance of two inches from the tip by a band of black. Female with the black band on the tail less decided, the middle feathers being but slightly marked with it.
Male, 16, wing, 9. Female, 151/2.
From the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains, and across them to the Columbia River. Common. Migratory.
Columba fasciata. Say, Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 10.
Columba fasciata, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.
Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 77.
Band-tailed Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 624.
Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 479.
283. 2. Columba leucocephala, Linn. White-headed Dove
Plate CLXXVII. Male and Female.
Upper parts dusky greyish-blue, lower paler; quills and tail-feathers darker; upper part of head white, hind neck dark purplish-brown, lower part and sides green, changing gold-colour, each feather margined with deep black.
Male, 141/4, 231/2. Female, 14.
Florida Keys. Common during summer only.
Columba leucocephala, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.
White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucocephala, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 15.
White-crowned Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 625.
White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 443; v. v. p. 557.
284. 3. Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Zenaida Dove
Plate CLXII. Male and Female.
Wings of moderate length, with the second quill longest; tail rounded, upper parts light yellowish-brown; quills brownish-black, narrowly margined with whitish, seven of the secondaries broadly tipped with white, the inner secondaries and the coverts with a broad black spot on the inner web toward the end; middle tail-feathers like the back, the rest greyish-blue, with broad black band toward the end, the extremity bluish-white; lower parts light brownish-red, paler on the throat, and passing into greyish-blue on the sides; lower wing-coverts light blue; a small spot of deep blue immediately behind the eye, a large one of brilliant rich blue a little below, on the side of the neck; and a band of splendent purple over the back and sides of the neck.
Male, 111/2, 181/8. Female, 101/2.
Florida Keys during summer only. Common.
Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.
Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.
Zenaida Dove, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 625.
Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 354; v. v. p. 558.
285. 4. Columba montana, Linn. Key-West Dove
Plate CLXVII. Male and Female.
Wings of moderate length, with the third quill longest, the outer webs of the outer five quills narrowed in the middle; tail rounded. Upper part brownish-red; upper part of head and hind neck shining with purplish and light green reflections; sides of the neck cream-coloured, changing to lilac, with green, blue, and purple tints behind; back and scapulars also splendent with purplish-red; a broad band from the lower mandible beneath the eye, and the throat white; fore neck and breast pale purple, the rest cream-coloured.
Male, 113/4, 171/2.
Key West only during summer. Not rare.
Columba montana, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 281.
Key-West Pigeon, Columba montana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 382.
286. 5. Columba passerina, Linn. Passerine Dove. – Ground Dove
Plate CLXXXII. Male, Female, and Young.
Wings of moderate length, with the third quill longest, the first having the outer web narrow at the base, the next four with a contraction toward the end; tail rounded. Male with the forehead, sides of the head, anterior and lateral parts of the neck, breast, and sides, light purplish-red, the central part of the neck-feathers dusky; hind head and neck pale blue, the feathers edged with dark grey; back brownish-grey; primaries and their coverts deep chestnut-red, margined externally, and tipped with dusky; secondary quills and their coverts pale grey, tinged with red; smaller inner secondaries, with their coverts and some of the smaller coverts, with oblong glossy blue spots; lower wing-coverts deep chestnut-red; tail-feathers, except the middle two, blue at the base, bluish-black toward the end. Female paler; the forehead and wing-coverts but slightly tinged with red, the hind neck less blue, and the spots on the wings of smaller extent, and more purple. Young resemble the female, with a tinge of yellow beneath.
Male, 63/4, 11. Female, 61/4.
Throughout the Floridas and their Keys, as well as from Louisiana to North Carolina, including Alabama and Georgia. Pretty abundant. Resident.
Columba passerina, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 285.
Ground Dove, Columba passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 15.
Columba passerina, Bonap. Syn. p. 120.
Ground Dove, Columba passerina, Aud. Amer. Ornith. v. ii. p. 471; v. v. p. 558.
GENUS II. STARNÆNAS, Bonap. GROUND-DOVE
Bill of moderate length, slender, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, the tip convex, declinate, obtuse. Nostrils oblique, linear. Head small, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full, robust. Legs stout; tarsus longer than the hind toe, covered anteriorly and laterally with subhexagonal scales; toes of moderate length. Claws rather small, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage compact. Wings short, rounded; third, fourth, and fifth quills longest, and almost equal; second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, cut out on the outer web. Tail of moderate length, slightly rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. Tongue and digestive organs as in the preceding genus.
287. 1. Starnænas cyanocephala, Linn. Blue-headed Ground-Dove
Plate CLXXII. Male and Female.
Upper parts rich chocolate, slightly tinged with olive; lower parts brownish-red, anteriorly tinged with purplish-red, lighter on the middle of the breast, the sides and lower tail-coverts approaching to the colour of the back; upper part of head bright blue, encircled by a band of deep black, broader on the occiput, and very narrow in front; a band of white, under the eye, meeting its fellow on the chin; a broad patch of black on the fore neck, margined with white beneath, and on the sides having a patch of light blue.
Male, 121/4, 171/2.
Accidental on the southernmost Florida Keys in summer only.
Columba cyanocephala, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 282.
Blue-headed Pigeon, Columba cyanocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 411; v. v. p. 557.
GENUS III. ECTOPISTES, Swains. LONG-TAILED-DOVE
Bill straight, of ordinary length, rather slender, broader than high at the base, with a tumid fleshy covering, compressed toward the end. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet short; tarsus as short as the hind toe and claw, anteriorly scutellate; outer toe slightly shorter than inner; claws rather short, stout, arched, obtuse. Plumage compact above; blended, but firm beneath. Wings long; first and second quills longest, and about equal. Tail long, cuneate, pointed. Digestive organs as in the preceding genus.
288. 1. Ectopistes migratoria, Linn. Wandering Long-tailed-Dove. – Passenger Pigeon
Plate LXII. Male and Female.
Twelve tail-feathers. Male with the upper part and sides of the head light blue; throat, fore neck, and breast, light brownish-red, sides and lower wing-coverts light blue, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; upper parts greyish-blue; lower part of neck behind and along the sides changing to gold, emerald-green, and rich crimson; some of the wing-coverts with a black spot; quills and larger coverts blackish-brown; primaries edged with blue at the base, with reddish-white toward the end; middle tail-feathers bluish-black, the rest pale blue at the base, with a patch of red and a band of black on the inner web, white in the rest of their extent. Female with the tints much duller, the upper parts inclining to yellowish-brown, the dark spots on the wings more numerous, the lower parts pale greyish, anteriorly tinged with yellowish-brown. In a female examined, the anterior part of the tarsus has two rows of scales, while in a male that part is broadly scutellate.
Male, 161/4, 25. Female, 15, 23.
Wanders continually in search of food throughout all parts of North America. Wonderfully abundant at times in particular districts.
Columba migratoria, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 285.
Passenger Pigeon, Columba migratoria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 102.
Columba migratoria, Bonap. Syn. p. 120.
Columba (Ectopistes) migratoria, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 363.
Passenger Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 629.
Passenger Pigeon, Columba migratoria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 319; v. v. p. 561.