A Synopsis of the Birds of North America. John James Audubon

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      Wings rather short, with the third and fourth quills longest, fifth longer than second, first and sixth equal; tail considerably rounded, the lateral feathers being three-twelfths shorter than the middle. Male with a broad band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating in a rather pointed form behind the ear-coverts; over this band a narrow one of very pale blue, or bluish-white; upper parts yellowish-green, on the head slightly tinged with red; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown, margined with yellowish-green; the edge of the wing and the margin of the outer primary yellow; fore part of neck bright yellow, as is the anterior part of the breast and the lower tail-coverts, the rest pale, the sides shaded with dull yellowish-brown; the axillaries and some of the lower wing-coverts white. Female with the upper parts lighter, the lower less bright, tinged with reddish-brown, the head of pale brownish-red, without the bands so conspicuous in the male. Young similar to the female, the males with a black mystachial band.

      Male, 43/4, 61/2.

      From Texas northward to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior; Columbia River.

      103. 4. Trichas Delafieldii, Aud. Delafield's Ground-Warbler

      Wing rather long, much rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest, sixth longer than second, first and tenth about equal; tail much rounded, the lateral feathers being half an inch shorter than the middle. Male with a band of black across the forehead, including the loral space and eyes, and terminating on the ear-coverts; upper part of head light greyish-blue, tinged behind with green; the rest of the upper parts dull yellowish-green; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown on the inner webs, the edge of the wing and margin of the outer primary yellow; all the lower parts rich yellow, excepting the sides, which are shaded into dull greenish-yellow.

      Male, 51/4, wing, 25/12.

      North California.

      GENUS IV. HELINAIA, Aud. SWAMP-WARBLERS

      Bill rather long, being nearly of the same length as the head, straight, or slightly decurved, tapering to a very acute point, much compressed; the upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the sides declinate and flat at the base, the edges somewhat inflected beyond the middle, the notch obsolete; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the edges involute, the tip extremely acute. Nostrils oblong; exposed. Feet of moderate length; tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw, slender, much compressed, with the upper scutella blended; toes slender; claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute, plumage soft and blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather long, somewhat pointed, the outer three nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. – Name from [Greek: Helos], a swamp, and [Greek: Naiô], to inhabit.

      104. 1. Helinaia Swainsonii, Aud. Swainson's Swamp-Warbler

      Bill as long as the head, much compressed; wings rather long, second and third quills equal and longest; tail even; upper parts olive-brown, the head strongly tinged with red; lower parts and a band over the eye pale yellowish-grey, the feathers on the cheeks tipped with brown, the sides of the neck and body more grey, the abdomen whitish.

      Male, 51/4, 81/2.

      South Carolina to Massachusetts. Very rare. Migratory.

      105. 2. Helinaia vermivora, Lath. Worm-eating Swamp-Warbler

      Bill nearly as long as the head, less compressed than in the last; wings rather long, second quill longest, first and third equal; tail very slightly rounded. Upper parts light olive-green; head and lower parts pale brownish-yellow, the former with four longitudinal black bands; throat and abdomen nearly white.

      Male, 51/2, 81/2.

      From Texas northwards, and in the interior to the Missouri. Not very abundant. Migratory.

      106. 3. Helinaia Protonotarius, Lath. Prothonotary Swamp-Warbler

      Bill nearly as long as the head; first quill longest; tail even. Male with the head, neck, breast, and sides rich yellow, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; hind neck and fore part of back greenish-yellow, rump, tail-coverts, smaller wing-coverts and margin of the quills and tail-feathers light greyish-blue; the latter, except the middle, having the greater part of their inner webs white.

      Male, 51/2, 81/2.

      From Texas eastward to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Saskatchewan. Rather rare. Migratory.

      107. 4. Helinaia chrysoptera, Linn. Golden-winged Swamp-Warbler

      Bill slightly shorter than the head, tapering to an acute point; wings with the second and third quills equal and longest, the fourth and first about equal; tail even. Male light ash-grey above, greyish-white beneath; upper part of head, and a patch on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts, bright yellow; a band from the bill to the eye, continued under it, and including the ear-coverts, black, as is the throat; a white band from the upper mandible over the eye, and another from the lower mandible down the neck. Female with the tints less bright, the back tinged with green, the side of the head and the throat grey, and the white bands on the head narrower and less extended.

      Male, 51/4, 75/8. Female, 5, 71/4.

      From Texas to Nova Scotia. In the interior to Kentucky. Rather rare. Migratory.