Color Key to North American Birds / with bibliographical appendix

by Frank M. Chapman

685. Wilson Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla). L. 5. No white in plumage. Ad. ♂. Crown shining black; forehead, cheeks and underparts yellow; back olive-green. Ad. ♀. Similar, but crown-patch often smaller, sometimes absent. Yng. ♀. Crown-patch absent. Notes. Song, 'tsh-'tsk-'tsh-'tshea. (Nuttall.) Suggests that of Redstart or Yellow Warbler. (Minot.) Range.—Eastern North America; breeds from Nova Scotia, northeastern Maine, and Ontario north to Labrador and Hudson Bay region; winters in Mexico and Central America; "occasional during migration in Colorado … and other parts of the Rocky Mountain district" (Ridgw.) (See [page 192].) 685a. Pileolated Warbler (W. p. pileolata). Similar to [No. 685], but yellow deeper, olive brighter. Range.—Western North America; breeding throughout the Rocky Mountain district from western Texas in higher mountains, northward to Alaska, coast and interior; westward to eastern Oregon and Queen Charlotte Islands; in migrations over all of western North America and east to Minnesota; in winter south to Central America. (Ridgw.) (See [page 192].) 685b. Golden Pileolated Warbler (W. p. chryseola). Similar to [No. 685a], but still brighter, richer yellow; forehead nearly orange; back brighter green. Range.—Pacific coast; breeds from southern California north to British Columbia; in migration east to eastern Oregon; south to Chihuahua and Lower California. (Ridgw.) (See [page 192].) 677. Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa). L. 5.6. No white in plumage. Ad. ♂. Cheeks and crown black the latter tipped with ashy; back olive-green; a yellow line over eye; below bright yellow. Ad. ♀. Similar, but less black in crown and on cheeks; yellow duller. Notes. Song, a loud musical whistle, turdle, turdle, turdle, suggesting notes of Carolina Wren. Range.—Eastern United States; breeds from Gulf States north to lower Hudson Valley, southern Michigan and eastern Nebraska; winters in Central and northern South America. 681. Maryland Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas). L. 5.2; W. 2.1. Ad. ♂. Forehead and cheeks black, bordered behind by ashy; back olive-green; throat and breast yellow, belly whitish washed with yellow, sides brownish. Ad. ♀. No black mask; above dull olive-green, forehead brownish; throat and breast more or less washed with yellow, belly whitish, sides brownish. Yng. ♂. Similar to Ad. ♂, but browner; breast yellow; cheeks and forehead with more or less half-concealed black. Notes. Calls, pit, chit, or chack; song, variable, often wichity, wichity, wichity. Range.—"Atlantic Coast district of United States; breeding in Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland and southern Pennsylvania (Carlisle), probably also in Delaware and southern New Jersey and in upland portions of Carolinas and Georgia; … south in winter to Bahamas …" (Ridgw.) 681a. Western Yellow-throat (G. t. occidentalis). Similar to [No. 681d], but yellow below richer, border of mask whiter and broader. Range.—Arid western United States; east to western portions of Great Plains, north to Montana and eastern Washington (?); west to southern California: breeding southward to northern Chihuahua and northern Lower California; southward in winter to western Mexico and Cape St. Lucas. (Ridgw.)

681b. Florida Yellow-throat (G. t. ignota). Similar to [No. 681d], but yellow below more extended and deeper, sides browner; black mask wider; upperparts, especially hindhead, browner. Range.—South Atlantic and Gulf Coast districts of United States from southeastern Virginia to Florida and westward along Gulf lowlands to eastern Texas; winters from at least coast of South Carolina southward; also in Cuba. (Ridgw.) 681c. Pacific Yellow-throat (G. t. arizela). Similar to [No. 681a], but bill smaller, wings and tail shorter, color duller, whitish margin of mask narrower, yellow usually less orange; W. 2.2; T. 2.1. (Ridgw.) Range.—"Pacific Coast district, from British Columbia southward; breeding southward to Los Angeles County, California, and eastward to Fort Klamath, Oregon; during migration to Cape St. Lucas." (Ridgw.) 681d. Northern Yellow-throat (G. t. brachidactyla). Similar to [No. 681], but averaging larger; W. 2.2. Ad. ♂. More yellow below, more olive-green above. Ad. ♀. Usually with yellow below brighter and more extended. (Ridgw.) Range.—Northeastern United States from northern New Jersey to Newfoundland; west to northern Ontario and eastern Dakota, and south through Mississippi Valley to upland districts of the Gulf States and east central Texas; in winter Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America. (Ridgw.) 681e. Salt Marsh Yellow-throat (G. t. sinuosa). Similar to [No. 681c], but much smaller and slightly darker, especially on sides and flanks; W. 2.1. (Ridgw.) Range.—Salt Marshes of San Francisco Bay, California. 682. Belding Yellow-throat (Geothlypis beldingi). L. 5.7. Ad. ♂. Black mask crossing head diagonally bordered behind by yellow; rest of plumage much as in No. 681a. Ad. ♀. Similar to ♂ of [No. 681], but larger. Range.—Lower California. 682.1. Rio Grande Yellow-throat (Geothlypis poliocephala). L. 5.7. Ads. Lores and forehead black, crown gray, back olive-green; underparts yellow. Range.—Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southward into Mexico.

645. Nashville Warbler (Helminthophila rubricapilla). L. 4.8. No wing-bars; no white in tail. Ad. ♂. A chocolate crown-patch; rest of head and cheeks bluish gray; a white eye-ring; back olive-green; below bright yellow. Ad. ♀. Similar, but little or no chocolate in crown; yellow duller. Yng. Head brownish; underparts washed with brownish, particularly on throat and flanks. Notes. Song, ke-tsee-ke-tsee-ke-tsee-chip-ee, chip-ee-chip-ee-chip, first half like Black and White Warbler's, second half like Chipping Sparrow's. (Langille.) Range.—Eastern North America; breeds from southern New York, Connecticut, and northern Illinois, north to Labrador and Hudson Bay region; winters south of United States. 645a. Calaveras Warbler (H. r. gutturalis). Similar to [No. 645], but rump brighter; underparts richer yellow. Range.—Western United States; breeds on high mountains, from the Sierra Nevada to British Columbia, east to eastern Oregon, northern Idaho; south in migration to Lower California and Mexico; southeast to Texas. (Ridgw.) 648. Parula Warbler (Compsothlypis americana). L. 4.5; W. 2.3. Ad. ♂. Above grayish blue, a yellowish patch in the back; breast yellow washed with chestnut and with an indistinct blackish band; belly, wing-bars, spot near tip of outer tail-feathers white. Ad. ♀. Paler, breast without black, sometimes no chestnut. Notes. A short, little, guttural, lisping trill. Range.—Breeds in south Atlantic and Gulf states east of Texas north near the Atlantic coast to the District of Columbia and Mount Carmel, Illinois (Brewst.); winters from Gulf States southward. 648a. Northern Parula Warbler (C. a. usneæ). Similar to [No. 648], but bill averaging slightly smaller, the wing longer, 2.4; black breast-band averaging wider; the chestnut wash stronger. Range.—Breeds in New England, New York and west along the northern tier of states, north into Maritime Provinces and Canada; winters from Gulf states southward. 649. Sennett Warbler (Compsothlypis nigrilora). L. 4.5. Similar to [No. 648], but yellow below reaching to belly; breast without black and with only a slight brownish wash; lores and ear-coverts black. Notes. Song probably resembles that of [No. 648]. Range.—Lower Rio Grande Valley south into eastern Mexico. 746. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps). L. 4.2; W. 2.2; T. 1.9. Ad. ♂. Head and throat yellow; forehead usually with some concealed orange-brown; lesser wing-coverts reddish chestnut; back brownish gray; belly whitish. Ad. ♂. Similar, but less yellow. Range.—Southern border of the United States and northern Mexico from southern Texas to southern California; north to southwestern Utah and southern Nevada. 746a. Baird Verdin (A. f. lamprocephalus). Similar to [No. 746], but tail shorter; wing somewhat shorter; yellow of head brighter; W. 2.0; T. 1.6. (Oberholser.) Range.—Lower California.

650. Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina). L. 5.1. Ad. ♂. Ear-coverts and wash on throat chestnut; crown blackish; back olive-green with black spots; below yellow streaked with black; wing-coverts broadly white; outer tail-feathers with white. Ad. ♀ and Yng. ♂. Duller; crown like back; no chestnut. Yng. ♀. Above olive-gray; below whitish faintly tinged with yellow; wing-bars, narrow. Notes. Song, a wiry "a-wit, a wit, a-wit, a-wit", repeated. (Butler.) Range.—Eastern North America; breeds from northern New England, rarely, and Manitoba north to Hudson Bay region; winters south of United States. 652. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica æstiva). L. 5.1. Inner vanes of tail-feathers yellow. Ad. ♂. Crown yellow, back bright yellowish green; below yellow thickly streaked with reddish brown. Ad. ♀. and Yng. ♂. Duller above, crown like back; below much paler, few or no streaks. Yng. ♀. Similar to last but still duller. Notes. Song, a rather loud wee-chee, chee, chee, cher-wee, variable in form but recognizable in tone. Range.—North America, except Alaska, Pacific coast from Vancouver north, and southwestern United States (western Texas to Arizona). (Ridgw.); breeds throughout most of its range, and winters in Central and South America. 652a. Sonora Yellow Warbler (D. æ. sonorana). Similar to [No. 652], but ♂ much yellower, less green above, the crown and rump bright yellow; below brighter yellow, reddish brown streaks narrower, fewer sometimes almost wanting. Ad. ♀. Similar to Ad. ♂ of [No. 652], but grayer above and whiter below. Range—Northern Mexico; breeding north to western Texas and southern Arizona; winters south of United States. 652b. Alaskan Yellow Warbler (D. æ. rubiginosa). Similar to [No. 652], but ♂ darker above, the crown of about the same color as back; ♀ duller. Range.—Breeds on Pacific coast from Vancouver northward and in Alaska; winters south of United States. 653. Mangrove Warbler (Dendroica bryanti castaneiceps). L. 5. Inner vanes of tail-feathers yellow. Ad. ♂. Whole head reddish chestnut; back olive-green; below yellow lightly streaked with reddish brown. Ad. ♀. Olive-green above; yellow below. Range.—Cape Region of Lower California and Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico. 672. Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum). L. 5.2. No white wing-bars; tail patches white. Ads. Crown dark chestnut; line over eye, throat, and breast yellow; breast and sides with reddish brown streaks; belly much paler, often grayish washed with yellow; back olive-brown; rump brighter. Ad. in Winter and Yng. No crown-patch; above grayish olive-brown indistinctly streaked; rump yellowish; below grayish white washed with yellow and streaked with brownish; under tail coverts bright yellow. Notes. Call, a recognizable chip; song, a short, simple trill. Range—Eastern North America; breeds in interior of British America west of Hudson Bay; migrates south through Mississippi Valley and rarely north Atlantic States; winters in Florida and West Indies.

672a. Yellow Palm Warbler (D. p. hypochrysea). Similar to [No. 672], but underparts entirely bright yellow; upperparts yellower. Winter specimens are whiter below but are still conspicuously yellow. Range.—Eastern United States; breeds from Nova Scotia northward, east of Hudson Bay; migrates through Atlantic States and winters in Florida and west to Louisiana. 673. * Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor). L. 4.7. Wing-bars yellowish; tail-patches white. Ad. ♂. Above bright olive-green with reddish chestnut spots in the back; below yellow, sides with black streaks. Ad. ♀. Similar, but usually duller; chestnut spots smaller, sometimes absent. Yng. Similar to ♀ Ad., but browner. Notes. Song, a high, thin zee, zee, zee, zee, zee-e, zee, the next to last highest. (See [page 196].) Range.—Eastern United States; breeds from Florida to Massachusetts, southern Ontario, and southern Michigan; winters from southern Florida into the West Indies. Lawrence Warbler (Helminthophila lawrencei). Resembles [No. 641], but has a black breast patch and a broad black stripe through the eye as in [No. 642]. It is believed to be a hybrid between the two. Some 15 specimens are known. Its notes are said to resemble those of both [No. 642] and [No. 641]. 641. Brewster Warbler (Helminthophila leucobronchialis). Resembles [No. 642] above, but is white usually tinged with yellow below, this type being connected with [No. 641], by specimens showing more green above and yellow below. Hybridism and dichromatism are believed to account for these birds of which somewhat over a hundred specimens are known, chiefly from the lower Hudson and Connecticut Valleys. Some songs resemble those of [No. 642], others those of 641. 644. Virginia Warbler (Helminthophila virginiæ). L. 4.5. No white in wings or tail. Ad. ♂. Above gray, crown-patch chocolate; upper tail-coverts yellowish; below whitish, breast-patch and under tail-coverts yellow. Ad. ♀. Similar, but less (sometimes no) chocolate in crown and yellow on tail-coverts; duller below. Yng. No crown patch; below washed with buff, little or no yellow on breast. Notes. Very musical, with a song of remarkable fullness for so small a bird. (Aitken.) Range.—Rocky Mountain region from Nevada and Colorado (rarely Wyoming) south into Mexico. 655. Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata). L. 5.6. Crown, sides of breast and rump yellow. Ad. ♂. Above blue-gray streaked with black; throat white, breast largely black; two white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers with white. Ad. ♀. Browner above, less black on breast. ♂ in winter. Above brown, back indistinctly streaked with black; below whitish, breast and sides streaked with black. Yng. ♀. Similar, but less yellow on crown and sides. Notes. Call, a characteristic tchip; song, a trill. Range.—Eastern North America, west in migrations, to the Rockies; breeds from northern New England and northern Minnesota north to Labrador and Alaska; winters from Massachusetts and Kansas south into West Indies and Central America.