Bill short, or of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat conical,
considerably broader than high at the base, gradually compressed
toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight until
near the end, the point very narrow, the notches very slight; lower
mandible with the angle rather short and narrow, the dorsal line
straight, the edges somewhat involute, the tip acute. Head moderate,
ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length;
tarsus longer than the middle toe, slender, much compressed, with
eight anterior scutella, of which the upper are blended; toes rather
small, or of moderate size, hind toe proportionally stout, outer
adherent for a short way at the base; claws moderate, much compressed,
arched, acute. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings of moderate
length. Tail of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Tongue of
moderate length, sagittate, tapering. Œsophagus of moderate width,
without dilatation, proventriculus bulbiform; stomach of moderate
size, roundish or elliptical, moderately muscular, with the muscles
distinct; epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short,
rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple; with
four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. MYIODIOCTES, Aud. FLYCATCHING-WARBLER.
Bill of moderate length, stoutish, straight, considerably broader than
high, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge
distinct, the dorsal line convex toward the end, the edges sharp and
overlapping, with a very faint notch close to the slightly deflected
tip; lower mandible with the ridge indistinct, the sides rounded, the
edges somewhat involute, the tip narrow, not ascending. Nostrils
basal, oblong. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather
slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus pretty stout, much
compressed; scutella blended, excepting the lower three; toes of
moderate length, very slender, the hind toe proportionally large, the
third and fourth united at the base, all scutellate. Claws moderate,
extremely compressed, well arched, very acute. Bristles at the base of
the bill elongated but slender. Wings of moderate length, the second
and third quills longest, the first scarcely shorter than the fourth.
Tail moderate, slightly rounded. Name from [Greek: Myia], an insect,
[Greek: Diôchtês], a pursuer.
71. 1. Myiodioctes mitratus, Lath. Hooded Flycatching-Warbler.--Hooded
Flycatcher. Hooded Warbler.
Plate CX. Male and Female. Plate IX. Young.
Third quill longest, second longer than fourth, which slightly exceeds
the first; tail slightly emarginate and rounded. Male with the
forehead, sides of the head, breast, sides, abdomen, lower wing and
tail coverts, rich pure yellow; hind head and neck all round black;
upper parts yellowish-olive; wings and tail dusky brown, margined with
yellowish-olive, an oblique patch of white on the inner webs of the
three outer tail-coverts. Female with the forehead, the sides of the
head, the throat, and all the lower parts yellow, the hind part of the
head dusky, the upper part as in the male. Young similar to the
female, but with the tints a little duller.
_Male_, 5-1/2, 8.
From Texas to Virginia. In the interior, as far as Memphis on the
Mississippi. Rather common. Migratory.
Hooded Flycatcher, Muscicapa cucullata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
iii. p. 101.
Sylvia mitrata, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Hooded Warbler, Sylvia mitrata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 66.
Adult Male and Female; v. v. p. 465.
Selby's Flycatcher, Muscicapa Selbyii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i.
p. 46. Young.
72. 2. Myiodioctes canadensis, Linn. Spotted Canadian Flycatching
Warbler.--Canadian Flycatcher. Canada Warbler.
Plate CIII. Male and Female.
Third quill longest, scarcely exceeding the second, fourth slightly
shorter, first intermediate between the fourth and fifth; tail
rounded. Male with the upper parts ash-grey; the feathers of the wings
and tail brown, edged with grey; the head spotted with black; loral
space, a band beneath the eye, proceeding down the side of the neck,
and a belt of triangular spots across the lower part of the fore neck,
black; the lower parts, and a bar from the nostril over the eye, pure
yellow; lower wing and tail-coverts white. Female similar to the male,
but with the black spots on the neck smaller and fainter. Young
similar to the female, with the tints paler, and the neck unspotted.
_Male_, 5-1/4, 9.
From Kentucky northward. Not found in the Atlantic districts.
Migratory.
Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 27.
Canada Flycatcher, Muscicapa canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
iii. p. 100.
Sylvia pardalina, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.
Canada Flycatcher, Muscicapa canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
ii. p. 17.