Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown above, yellowish-red beneath; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat and fore part of the breast pale bluish-grey; rump pale yellowish-grey, faintly streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with greyish-white; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white, the latter tinged with yellowish-brown.
This species is much larger than the last, wants the black spot on the forehead, and has the wing-bands more conspicuous.
Male, 61/4, 83/4.
Rarely reaches the Carolinas during winter, or Louisville on the Ohio. Breeds from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.
Tree Sparrow, Fringilla arborea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 12.
Fringilla canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.
Emberiza canadensis, Tree Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 252.
Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 495.
Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 511; v. v. p. 504.
GENUS III. NIPHÆA, Aud. SNOW-BIRD.
Bill short, rather small, conical, acute; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges nearly straight, slightly inflected, but overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven scutella; toes rather strong, the first stout, the lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings rather short, curved, rounded, second, third, and fourth quills longest, first longer than fifth. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with thin ridges, and a small knob at the base; tongue narrow, deep, grooved above, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, muscular; intestine rather short; cœca very small. Name from [Greek: Niphos], snow.
167. 1. Niphæa hyemalis, Linn. Common Snow-Bird.
Plate XIII. Male and Female.