A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Ruby-crowned Wren, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 83.

Regulus Calendula, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.

Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia Calendula, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 415.

Ruby-crowned Regulus, Regulus Calendula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 546.

GENUS II. SIALIA, Swains. BLUE BIRD.

Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and slightly declinate, until near the end, when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a distinct notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval. Head rather large, ovate, neck short; body moderately full. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, its lower scutella only distinct; toes of moderate length, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third much longer; the fourth adherent at the base; claws moderate, well curved, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended; short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed; the first quill very small, second, third, and fourth longest. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve rather strong feathers.

134. 1. Sialia Wilsoni, Swains. Common Blue Bird.

Plate CXIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the upper parts ultramarine blue, the lower parts light chestnut-red, excepting the abdomen, which is white. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, brighter behind; lower parts as in the male, but much duller. Young with the upper part of the head, hind neck, and part of the back greyish-brown, the rest as in the female, the lower parts light grey, the feathers on the breast and sides margined with brown.

Male, 7, 10. Female, 6¹/₂.

Generally distributed from Texas to the Fur Countries. Vast numbers spend the winter in the Southern States. Columbia River. Migratory.

Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 56.

Saxicola Sialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.

Erythaca (Sialia) Wilsonii, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 210.

Blue Bird, Ampelis Sialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 444.

Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 84; v. v. p. 452.

135. 2. Sialia occidentalis, Townsend. Western Blue Bird.