Sylvia parus, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 82.
Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia parus, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. v. p. 114. pl. 44. fig. 3. Male.—Nuttall, Manual, part i. p. 392.
Adult Male. Plate CXXXIV. Fig. 1.
Bill shortish, nearly straight, subulato-conical, acute, nearly as deep as broad at the base, the edges sharp, the gap line slightly deflected at the base. Nostrils basal, elliptical, lateral, half-closed by a membrane. General form rather slender. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus slender, compressed, anteriorly scutellate, sharp behind; toes scutellate above, the inner free, the hind toe of moderate size; claws arched, slender, compressed, acute.
Plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed. Wings of ordinary length, the first quill longest. Tail shortish, emarginate.
Bill dark brown above, pale brown beneath. Iris hazel. Feet pale brown, tinged with yellow. The upper parts are yellowish-green, spotted with brownish-black. The head yellow. The quills and their coverts brownish-black, margined with yellowish-green. The outer margin of the inner secondary quills, and the ends of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts, white. Tail-feathers brownish-black, edged externally with yellowish-green; the three outer on each side white, with the shafts and a broadish line at the end black. A yellow band passes over the eye; cheeks greenish; throat, fore neck, and breast, rich yellow, which gradually fades posteriorly; the sides streaked with blackish-brown.
Length 5½ inches, extent of wings 8½; bill along the back 5⁄12, along the edge 7⁄12; tarsus 9⁄12.
Adult Female. Plate CXXXIV. Fig. 2.
The Female resembles the male, but is rather paler.