37. 1. Otus vulgaris, Fleming. Common Eared-Owl. – Long-eared Owl
Tufts elongated; general colour of plumage buff, mottled and spotted with brown and greyish-white; dirty whitish anteriorly, with the tips black, posteriorly reddish-white; ruff mottled with red and black; upper part of head minutely mottled with whitish, brownish-black, and light red; the tufts light reddish toward the base, brownish-black in the centre toward the end, the inner edge white, dotted with dark brown; upper parts buff, variegated with brown and whitish-grey, minutely mottled or undulatingly barred; first row of coverts tipped with white; quills and scapulars pale grey barred with dark brown, the primaries buff toward the base externally. Tail with ten bars on the middle and eight on the outer feathers; lower parts with more buff and fewer spots than the upper, each feather with a long dark brown streak, and several irregular transverse bars; legs and toes pure buff.
Male, 141/2, 38. Female, 16, 40.
From Maryland eastward, and Kentucky westward to the Missouri. Rather rare. Resident.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 52.
Strix Otus, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 130.
Long-eared Owl, Strix Otus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 573.
38. 2. Otus brachyotus, Linn. Short-tufted Eared-Owl. – Short-Eared Owl
Tufts inconspicuous, general colour of plumage buff variegated with dark brown; eye surrounded by a ring of brownish-black, much broader behind; anterior half of disk white, with the tips black, posterior yellowish; anterior auricular ruff white, posterior yellowish, each feather with an oblong dark brown spot; upper parts buff, longitudinally streaked with dark brown; scapulars and wing-coverts spotted and banded in large patches, many with a large yellowish-white spot on the outer web near the end; quills buff, with two or three dark brown bands; tail similar, with five broad dark bands, the tip yellowish-white; on the middle feathers, the light-coloured spaces have a brown central patch; lower parts pale buff, whitish behind, the neck with oblong, the breast and sides with linear dark brown streaks; chin, feet, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted.
Male, 15, 40. Female, 17, 45.
From Texas eastward. Columbia River. Common. Migratory.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 64.
Strix brachyotos, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 132.
Short-eared Owl, Strix brachyotos, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 273.
GENUS VI. BUBO, Cuvier. HORNED-OWL
Bill short, stout, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line curved from the base, the edges with a slight festoon, the tip trigonal, very acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line convex, the tip obliquely truncate. Nostrils broadly elliptical, aperture of ear elliptical, less than half the height of the head, without operculum. Feet of ordinary length; tarsi and toes feathered. Plumage full and very soft; facial disks complete; a tuft of elongated feathers on each side of the crown of the head. Wings ample, the first quill short, the fourth longest. Tail of ordinary length, rounded.
39. 1. Bubo Virginianus, Gmel. Virginian Horned-Owl. – Great Horned-Owl
Plate LXI. Male and Female.
Upper part of the head brownish-black, mottled with light brown, the tufts of the same colour, margined with brown; face brownish-red, with a circle of blackish-brown; upper parts undulatingly banded and minutely mottled with brownish-black and yellowish-red, behind tinged with grey; wings and tail light brownish-yellow, barred and mottled with blackish-brown and light brownish-red; chin white; upper part of throat light reddish, spotted with black, a band of white across the middle of fore neck; its lower part and the breast light yellowish-red, barred with deep brown, as are the lower parts generally; several longitudinal brownish-black patches on the lower fore neck; tarsal feathers light yellowish-red, obscurely barred.
Male, 23, 56. Female, 25, 60.
From Texas northward. Resident. Not rare in the south.
Great Horned-Owl, Strix Virginiana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 52.
Strix Virginiana, Bonap. Syn. p. 37.
Great Horned-Owl or Cat Owl, Strix Virginiana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 124.
Great Horned-Owl, Strix Virginiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 313; v. v. p. 393.
40. 2. Bubo Asio, Linn. Mottled Horned-Owl
Plate XCVII. Adult and Young.
Adult with the upper parts pale brown, spotted and dotted with brownish-black; a pale grey line from the base of the upper mandible over each eye; quills light brownish-grey, barred with brownish-black, their coverts dark brown, secondary coverts with the tip white; throat yellowish-grey, lower parts light grey, patched and sprinkled with brownish-black; tail-feathers tinged with red. Young with the upper parts light brownish-red, each feather with a central blackish-brown line; tail and quills barred with dull brown; a line over the eye, and the tips of the secondary coverts reddish-white; breast and sides light yellowish-grey, spotted and lined with brownish-black and bright reddish-brown, the rest of the lower parts yellowish-grey, the tarsal feathers pale yellowish-red.
Male, 10, 22. Female, 10, 23.
From Texas eastward. Columbia River. Resident. Abundant.
Mottled Owl, Strix nævia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 16. Adult.
Red Owl, Strix Asio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 83. Young.
Mottled and Red Owl, Strix Asio, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 120.
Little Screech Owl, Strix Asio, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 486; v. v. p. 392.
FAMILY VI CAPRIMULGINÆ. GOATSUCKERS
Mouth opening to beneath the centre of the eyes; bill much depressed, generally feeble, the horny part being small; upper mandible with the tip somewhat decurved. Nostrils elliptical, prominent, marginate. Eyes extremely large. Aperture of ear elliptical, very large. Head of extreme breadth, depressed; body very slender. Feet very small; tarsus partially feathered, scaly; anterior toes webbed at the base; hind toe small, and versatile, all scutellate above; claw of third toe generally elongated, with the inner margin thin and pectinate. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings very long, the second and third quills longest. Tail long, of ten feathers. Œsophagus rather wide, without crop; stomach very large, roundish, its muscular coat very thin, and composed of a single series of strong fasciculi; epithelium very hard, with longitudinal rugæ; intestine short and wide; cœca large, oblong, narrow at the base; cloaca globular. Trachea of nearly uniform width, without inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in hollow trees. Eggs generally two. Young covered with down. Very nearly allied in some respects to the Owls.
GENUS I. CAPRIMULGUS, Linn. GOATSUCKER
Bill feeble, gape extending to beneath the posterior angle of the eye. Nostrils elliptical, prominent. Wings long, pointed, the second quill longest; tail long. Claw of middle toe pectinate. Along the base of the bill on each side, a series of feathers having very strong shafts, terminating in an elastic filamentous point, and with the barbs or lateral filaments extremely slender, distant, and not extended beyond the middle of the shaft. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings long and pointed, the second quill longest; tail long, rounded.
41. 1. Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Gmel. Carolina Goatsucker. – Chuck-will's-widow
Plate LII. Male and Female.
Bristles with lateral filaments; tail slightly rounded. Head and back dark brown, minutely mottled with yellowish-red, and longitudinally streaked with black; three bands of the latter colour, from the lower mandible diverging along the head; a yellowish-white line over the eye; wings barred with yellowish-red and brownish-black, and minutely sprinkled with the latter colour, as are the wing-coverts, which, together with the scapulars, are largely spotted with black, and tinged with grey; tail similarly barred and dotted; terminal half of the inner webs of the three outer feathers white, their extremities light red; lower parts dull reddish-yellow, sprinkled with dusky; a band of whitish feathers barred with black on the fore neck. Female like the male, but without white on the tail.
Male, 123/4, 26. Female, 131/4, 30.
From Texas to North Carolina. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Resident in the Floridas.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 95.
Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 61.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, v. i. p. 612.
Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus Carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 273; v. v. p. 401.
42. 2. Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Whip-poor-will Goatsucker
Bristles without lateral filaments; tail much rounded. General colour of upper parts dark brownish-grey, streaked and minutely sprinkled with brownish-black; quills and coverts dark brown, spotted in bars with light brownish-red; four middle tail-feathers like those of the back, the three lateral white in their terminal half; throat and breast similar to the back, with a transverse band of white on the fore neck, the rest of the lower parts paler and mottled. Female like the male, but with the lateral tail-feathers reddish-white toward the tip only, and the band across the fore neck pale yellowish-brown.
Male, 91/2, 19. Female.
From Texas to Lake Huron, and the base of the Rocky Mountains. A few remain in winter in Florida.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 71.
Caprimulgus vociferus, Bonap. Syn. p. 62.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 422; v. v. p. 405.
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 614.
GENUS II. CHORDEILES, Swainson. NIGHT-HAWK
Mouth opening to beneath the centre of the eyes; bill extremely small; upper mandible with the tip decurved, and a deep lateral groove. Nostrils oblong, prominent, marginate. Eyes very large. Aperture of ear elliptical, very large. Head very large, depressed, but less so than in Caprimulgus. Claw of middle toe pectinate. No bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed, with the first quill longest, and the secondaries very short. Tail emarginate.
43. 1. Chordeiles Virginianus, Briss. Virginian Night-Hawk. – Bat. Crapaud volant
Plate CXLVII. Male and Female.
Upper parts brownish-black, mottled with white and pale reddish-brown; a conspicuous white bar extending across the inner web of the first, and the whole breadth of the next four quills; tail-feathers barred with brownish-grey, the four outer on each side plain brownish-black towards the end, with a large white spot; sides of the head and fore neck mottled like the back; a broad white band, in the form of the letter V reversed on the throat and sides of the neck; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, transversely undulated with dark brown. Female similar, with the dark parts more brown, the white more tinged with red, the band on the throat brownish-white, and the white spots on the tail-feathers wanting.
Male, 91/2, 231/2. Female, 93/4, 233/4.
From Texas northward. Columbia River. Throughout the interior. Migratory. Very abundant.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Americanus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. Biog. v. v. p. 65.
Caprimulgus Virginianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 62.
Caprimulgus (Chordeiles) Virginianus, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. i. p. 62.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Americanus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 619.
Night-Hawk, Caprimulgus Virginianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 273; v. v. p. 406.
FAMILY V. CYPSELINÆ. SWIFTS
Mouth opening to beneath the hind part of the eyes; bill extremely short, very broad at the base, compressed at the end; upper mandible decurved at the point, the edge inflected, with an indistinct sinus. Nostrils basal, approximate, oblong. Head large and depressed; neck short; body rather slender. Feet extremely short; tarsus rounded, destitute of scutella; toes extremely short, the three anterior nearly equal; hind toe very small, and versatile; claws strong, compressed, arched, very acute. Plumage compact; no bristles at the base of the upper mandible; wings extremely elongated, falciform, the first quill longest; tail of ten feathers. Œsophagus of moderate width, without crop; stomach oblong, moderately muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, and rather wide; no cœca. No inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest in crevices or holes, or attached to high places. Eggs elongated, white.
GENUS I. CHÆTURA, Stephens. SPINE-TAIL
All the characters as above. Tarsus bare, longer than the middle toe, which scarcely exceeds the outer. Tail short, even, the shafts very strong, and prolonged into acuminate points.
44. 1. Chætura pelasgia, Linn. American Spine-tail. – Chimney Swallow. American Swift
Brownish-black, lighter on the rump, with a slight greenish gloss on the head and back; throat greyish-white, lower parts greyish-brown, tinged with green; loral space black, and a greyish-white line over the eye. Female similar to the male.
Male, 41/4, 12.
Extends as far eastward as Nova Scotia. Abundant. Migratory.
Chimney Swallow, Hirundo pelasgia, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. v. p. 48.
Cypselus pelasgius, Bonap. Syn. p. 63.
Chimney Swift or Swallow, Cypselus pelasgius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 609.
Chimney Swallow or American Swift, Cypselus pelasgius, Aud. Ornith. Biog. v. ii. p. 329; v. v. p. 419.
FAMILY VI. HIRUNDINÆ. SWALLOWS
Bill very short, much depressed and very broad at the base, compressed toward the tip; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex, the edges overlapping, with a small notch close to the slightly decurved tip. Head broad, depressed; neck very short, body moderate. Feet very short, tarsus very short, anteriorly scutellate; toes of moderate size; first large, all scutellate in their whole length; claws rather strong, compressed, well curved, acute. Plumage soft, blended, glossy. No bristles at the base of the bill. Wings extremely long, narrow, pointed, somewhat falciform; secondaries very short. Tail generally emarginate, of twelve feathers. Mouth extremely wide; œsophagus rather wide, without crop; stomach elliptical or roundish, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; cœca very small. Four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest in holes in banks, buildings, or trees, or attached to the surface of these objects. Eggs from four to six, white, plain, or spotted.
GENUS I. HIRUNDO, Linn. SWALLOW
Characters as above; tail emarginate or forked.
45. 1. Hirundo purpurea, Linn. Purple Martin
Plate XXIII. Male and Female.
Bill rather stout; wings as long as the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Plumage silky, shining, purplish-black, with steel blue reflections; quills and tail-feathers brownish-black; tarsi and toes purplish-black. Female with the upper parts paler, and tinged with grey, the lower light grey, longitudinally streaked with black.
Male, 71/2, 16. Female, 74/12, 159/12.
From the Texas northward. Rocky Mountains, and all intermediate districts. Migratory.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 58.
Hirundo purpurea, Bonap. Syn. p. 64.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 598.
Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 115; v. v. p. 408.
46. 2. Hirundo bicolor. Vieill. White-bellied Swallow
Plate XCVIII. Male and Female.
Wings a little longer than the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Upper parts steel blue, with green reflections, lower white; feet flesh-coloured. Female similar to the male.
Male, 51/4, 10. Female.
From Texas northward. Columbia River, and all intermediate districts. Winters in Florida and Louisiana.
Green-blue or White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo viridis, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iii. p. 44.
Hirundo bicolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 65.
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 605.
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 491; v. v. p. 417.
47. 3. Hirundo fulva, Vieill. Cliff-Swallow, – Republican Swallow
Bill shorter than in the last species; wings of the same length as the tail, which is slightly emarginate. Upper part of head, back, and smaller wing-coverts black with bluish-green reflections; forehead white, generally tinged with red; loral space and a band on the lower part of the forehead black; chin, throat, and sides of the neck deep brownish-red; a patch of black on the fore-neck; rump light yellowish-red; lower parts greyish-white, anteriorly tinged with red. Female similar to the male. Young dark greyish-brown above, reddish-white beneath.
Male, 51/2, 12. Female, 54/12, 123/4.
From Kentucky northward. Abundant from New York to Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Rocky Mountains. Migratory.
Fulvous or Cliff Swallow, Hirundo fulva, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 63.
Hirundo fulva, Bonap. Syn. p. 64.
Fulvous or Cliff Swallow, Hirundo fulva, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 603.
Republican or Cliff Swallow, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 353; v. v. p. 415.
48. 4. Hirundo rustica, Linn. Chimney-Swallow. – Barn-Swallow
Plate CLXXIII. Male and Female.
Tail very deeply forked, the lateral feathers much exceeding the wings. Forehead and throat bright chestnut; upper parts and a band on the fore-neck glossy deep steel-blue; quills and tail brownish-black glossed with green; the latter with a white spot on the inner web of each of the feathers, except the two middle. Female similar to the male. Young less deeply coloured, the forehead and throat pale red, the band on the fore-neck dusky tinged with red; lateral tail-feathers not exceeding the wings.
Male, 7, 13. Female, 65/12, 129/12.
Throughout North America, Europe, and Africa. Migratory.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 34.
Hirundo Americana, American Barn Swallow, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 329.
Hirundo rufa, Bon. Syn. p. 64.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rufa, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 601.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 413; v. v. p. 411.
49. 5. Hirundo thalassina, Swains. Violet-green Swallow
Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Bill narrower than in the preceding species; wings extremely long, extending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head deep green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck; back rich grass-green, rump and upper tail-coverts carmine purple; a line over the eye, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white, excepting the wing-coverts, which are light grey. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, glossed with green; the back as in the male, the rump greyish-brown; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with grey.
Male, 410/12, wing 46/12.
California, Rocky Mountains, and Oregon Territory. Migratory.
Hirundo thalassinus, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. for 1827, p. 365.
Violet-green Swallow, Hirundo thalassina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 597.
50. 6. Hirundo riparia, Linn. Bank Swallow
Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female. Fig. 3. Young.
Tail slightly forked, margin of first quill smooth, tarsus with a tuft of feathers behind; upper parts greyish-brown, lower whitish, with a dusky band across the fore part of the neck. Young with the feathers of the upper parts margined with reddish-white.
Male, 5, 11. Female, 47/8.
From Texas northward. Rocky Mountains. Columbia River. Migratory; but vast numbers winter in Florida.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 46.
Hirundo riparia, Bonap. Syn. p. 65.
Hirundo riparia, Sand Martin, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 333.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 607.
Bank Swallow or Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 584.
51. 7. Hirundo serripennis, Aud. Rough-winged Swallow
Tail slightly emarginate, margin of first quill rough with the strong decurved tips of the filaments, tarsus bare; upper parts greyish-brown, lower pale greyish-brown, white behind. Very nearly allied to the last in form and colour, but readily distinguishable by drawing the finger along the edge of the wing, when the stiff projecting tips of the filaments are felt like the edge of a fine saw.
Male, 53/4, 121/2.
Louisiana and South Carolina. Migratory.
Rough-winged Swallow, Hirundo serripennis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 593.