A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, changing to ash-grey on the neck and sides of the head, to greenish-yellow on the rump; a band of greyish-white across the anterior part of the forehead, which, at the eye, separates into two bands, one extending over, the other under the eye; above this, a broadish band of black, also margining the head on either side; the inner webs and tips of the feathers of this black band pure yellow; the crown of the head, in the included space, bright orange with silky gloss; a dusky spot at the anterior angle of the eye; an obscure dusky line from the angle of the mouth to beneath the eye; quills and coverts dusky, the former margined with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts broadly tipped with yellowish-white; base of all the quills, except the four outer yellowish-white; from the seventh primary to the innermost secondary but two, a broad bar of blackish-brown; tail dusky, the feathers edged with greenish-yellow, lower parts greyish-white. Female differs chiefly in having pale yellow substituted for the flame colour of the crown, and less grey on the hind neck. Young without coloured feathers on the head.

Male, 4, 7.

Breeds in Labrador and Newfoundland. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Columbia River.

Golden-crested Wren, Sylvia Regulus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 126.

Regulus cristatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.

American Fiery-crowned Wren, Regulus tricolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 420.

American Golden-crested Wren, Regulus tricolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 476.

133. 3. Regulus Calendula, Linn. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Plate CXCV. Male and Female.

Upper parts greenish-olive, anteriorly tinged with grey, on the rump inclining to yellow; a patch of vermilion on the crown of the head; quills and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white, a circle of the same round the eye; lower parts greenish-white. Female similar, with the tints duller, especially the greenish-yellow of the wings. Young without the coloured patch on the crown, and more deeply tinged with yellow beneath.

Male, 4¹/₄, 6.

Breeds in Labrador. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Abundant.