A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Lincoln's Finch, Fringilla Lincolnii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 539.

GENUS VII. LINARIA, Ray. LINNET.

Bill short, conical, moderately stout, higher than broad at the base, compressed toward the end, acuminate; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the nasal sinus very short and broad, the ridge distinct and narrow, the sides convex, the edges ascending at first, afterwards direct, the tip very narrow, without notches; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular, the dorsal line straight or very slightly concave, the sides convex, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, roundish; neck short; body moderate. Feet of moderate length; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather stout, the first large. Claws long, moderately arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather long, the first three quills nearly equal, the second generally longest, the first longer than the third. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate or forked, with the feathers pointed. Roof of upper mandible concave, with two ridges; tongue deeper than broad, concave above toward the point, which is acute; œsophagus enlarged about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine of moderate length, slender; cœca very small.

178. 1. Linaria borealis, Temm. Mealy Redpoll Linnet.

Plate CCCC. Fig. 2. Male.

Male with the upper part of the head crimson, the cheeks, sides of the body, and hind part of the rump pale carmine; a band edging the forehead, the loral space, and the throat black; upper parts dusky, streaked with brownish-white, the fore part of the rump nearly white; feathers of the wings and tail dusky, margined with greyish-white, of which there are two transverse bands on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky. Female somewhat less, with the black on the forehead and throat tinged with brown, the crimson patch on the head of less extent, the sides and rump destitute of red.

Male, 5¹/₄, 9.

Accidental in New Jersey and New York. More common from Maine northward. Labrador and Fur Countries. Columbia River.

Grosbec boreal, Fringilla borealis, Temm. Man. d'Orn. v. iii. p. 264.

Mealy Redpoll, Fringilla borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 87.

179. 2. Linaria minor, Ray. Lesser Redpoll Linnet.