Sylvia aurocapilla, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 77.
Seiurus aurocapillus, Golden-crowned Accentor, Swains. and Richards. Fauna Bor.-Amer. part ii. p. 227.
Adult Male. Plate CXLIII. Fig. 1.
Bill shortish, nearly straight, subulato-conical, rather broader than deep at the base, compressed towards the end, the edges sharp and a little inflected, the dorsal outlines of both mandibles slightly convex. Nostrils basal, elliptical, lateral, half-closed by a membrane. The general form is slender. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, slender, covered anteriorly with a long undivided piece, and three inferior scutella, sharp behind; toes scutellate above, free; claws slender, compressed, acute, arched.
Plumage soft and blended. Wings of ordinary length, the second and third quills almost equal, the third longest. Tail short, slightly emarginate, of twelve pointed feathers.
Bill dusky above, flesh-coloured beneath. Iris brown. Feet very light flesh-coloured and transparent. The general colour of the plumage above is greenish-brown, the crown brownish-orange, with two lateral lines of brownish-black spots. The lower parts are white, the throat with two lateral lines of brownish-black, and the lower neck, fore part of the breast, and the sides marked with triangular spots of the same.
Length 6 inches, extent of wings 9; bill along the ridge 5½⁄12, along the edge 7½⁄12; tarsus 9½⁄12.
Adult Female. Plate CXLIII. Fig. 2.
The female resembles the male, but is somewhat lighter, with the crown paler. The dimensions are nearly the same.