A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Male, 8¹/₂, 12.

Breeds from Texas along the Atlantic districts, as well as in the interior, northward to Labrador. Abundant. Migratory.

Towhe Bunting, Emberiza erythrophthalma, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 35.

Fringilla erythrophthalma, Bonap. Syn. p. 112.

Ground Robin or Towhe Finch, Fringilla erythrophthalma, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 515.

Towhe Bunting, Fringilla erythrophthalma, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 151; v. v. p. 511.

GENUS XI. ERYTHROSPIZA, Bonap. PURPLE-FINCH.

Bill rather short, robust, bulging, conical, pointed; upper mandible a little broader, with the nasal sinus very short and broad, the dorsal line a little convex, the ridge indistinct, the sides rounded, the edges a little inflected, ascending at the base, afterwards direct, the notches faint, the tip slightly deflected, rather acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending, straight, the back and sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils roundish, partially concealed by the short reflexed bristly feathers. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short, body moderate. Tarsus short, slender, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather small, first stout, lateral nearly equal. Claws slender, much compressed, well arched, acute. Plumage soft and rather blended; feathers of the hind head somewhat elongated and pointed. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed, the outer four quills longest. Tail of moderate length, deeply emarginate. Upper mandible concave beneath, with two prominent lines, of which the lateral are much larger; tongue higher than broad, channelled above, the tip somewhat rounded and concave; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine short; cœca very small.

196. 1. Erythrospiza purpurea, Gmel. Crested Purple-Finch.—Purple Finch.

Plate IV. Male and Female.

Second quill longest, first shorter than third. Male with the head, neck, breast, back, and upper tail-coverts, crimson, paler behind; fore part of the back spotted with brown; quills, larger coverts, and tail, deep brown, margined with dull red. Female with the upper parts yellowish-olive, streaked with brown; a whitish band over the eye; lower parts greyish-white, streaked with brown. Young like the female.

Male, 6, 9.

During winter, from Texas to the Carolinas, and northward to Kentucky. In summer, from St Louis to the Columbia, and in the Fur Countries. Abundant.