Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia. Not observed in Kentucky. Winter resident in the Southern States. Very abundant.
Fringilla melodia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 125.
Fringilla melodia, Bonap. Syn. p. 108.
Common Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 486.
Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 126; v. v. p. 507.
190. 5. Fringilla Mortoni, Aud. Morton's Finch.
Not figured.
Wings of moderate length, the first quill two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, which is almost equal to the third; tail of moderate length, nearly even; bill dusky; feet and claws yellowish-brown; upper part of head ash-grey, with a longitudinal band of black on each side, externally of which is a greyish-white band; loral space, cheek-feathers, and auriculars dusky, the feathers under the eye tipped with white; throat white, surrounded with a black band; a light chestnut-red band surrounding the neck unless for a short space in front; fore-part of back and scapulars light dull yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-black, the hind part, rump, and upper tail-coverts yellowish-grey; the smaller wing-coverts yellowish-grey, the first row brownish-black toward the end with the tip white, the secondary coverts and inner secondary quills brownish-black, broadly margined with light yellowish-red, the former tipped with white, the rest of the quills dusky brown, edged with yellowish-red fading on the outer whitish; tail-feathers blackish-brown, narrowly edged with pale yellowish-grey, the lateral of a lighter tint; lower parts dull brownish-white, sides light greyish-brown, lower wing-coverts yellowish-white.
Male, 51/2, wing, 211/12.
North California.
Morton's Finch, Fringilla Mortoni, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 312.
* Claws shorter and more curved.
191. 6. Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Lath. White-throated Finch.