_Vireo_, VIEILL., Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 83. (Type, _Muscicapa
noveboracensis_, GM.)
[Line drawing: _Vireo noveboracensis._
29248]
CHAR. Wings short and rounded, a little longer than the tail, equal to
it, or shorter. First primary distinct and large, from two fifths to
half or more the length of the second, shorter or not longer than the
eighth.
[Illustration: _Vireo noveboracensis._]
The characters of _Vireo_ are essentially those of _Vireosylvia_; the
bill, however, is shorter; the first quill always present, better
developed, sometimes more than half the second. The wings are shorter,
and more rounded; the tarsi usually longer. The, sections are as
follows:—
Vireo. Wings pointed; first quill less than half the second, which
is about equal to seventh or eighth, and decidedly longer than the
tenth primary and the secondaries. Type, _V. noveboracensis_.
Vireonella. Wings rounded, scarcely longer than the tail; the first
quill half as long as the second (or more than half), which is not
longer than the tenth primary and secondaries, or even less. Bill and
feet generally much stouter than the preceding. Type, _V. gundlachi_.
None of the species of _Vireonella_ are found in the United States.
Species.
COMMON CHARACTERS. All the species olivaceous or ashy above,
beneath whitish, or olivaceous-yellow. Wings with light bands. A
light stripe from bill over the eye, but not beyond it, except in
_carmioli_. Iris brown, as far as known, except in _V. noveboracensis_,
where it is white.
A. Two conspicuous light bands on wing.
_a._ Sexes different. Whole lore white.
1. V. atricapillus. Above olive-green, outer edges of
tail-feathers bright yellowish-green; wing-bands
greenish-white. Sides olivaceous-yellow. _Male._ Head and
neck (except lore, orbital ring, chin, and throat) deep
black; lower parts pure white medially. _Female_ with the
black replaced by dull slate; lower parts ochraceous-white
medially. Wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80; tarsus, .68; bill, from
nostril, .24. _Hab._ Southern Texas; Mazatlan, Mexico.
_b._ Sexes alike. Lore dusky, with light mark above it.
2. V. carmioli.[78] Above brownish olive-green. Beneath,
with supra-loral stripe, orbital ring, and light markings
on the wings, light ochrey-yellow more whitish on the
throat. Wing, 2.55; tail, 2.00; tarsus, .66; bill, .26.
_Hab._ Costa Rica.
3. V. noveboracensis. Above olive-green, ashy across the
nape. Supra-loral stripe and orbital ring deep yellow.
Beneath ashy-white on throat, purer white on abdomen;
sides, and a tinge across the breast, light yellow. Iris
white. Wing, 2.40; tail, 2.00; tarsus, .63; bill, .26.
_Hab._ Eastern Province of United States, south (in winter)
to Guatemala (and Bogota?); very rare in Cuba; abundant and
resident in Bermuda.
4. V. huttoni. Above grayish-olive, more olive-green
toward tail. Below pale grayish-buff. Orbital ring very
broad, yellowish-white. Wing, 2.50; tail, 2.05; tarsus,
.67; bill, .24. _Hab._ California; in winter, Western
Mexico to Oaxaca.
B. Only one band on wing, and this indistinct.
5. V. belli. Above ashy-olive, more virescent
posteriorly. Markings on side of head not well defined.
Below dull white, with a slight buffy tinge, strongly
stained with yellow on sides and flanks. Upper feathers of
middle row of wing-coverts passing into paler at tip,
producing an indication of an anterior band. Wing, 2.20;
tail, 1.80; tarsus, .69; bill, .25. _Hab._ Plains between
the Mississippi Valley and the Rocky Mountains, from Dakota
to Texas; in winter south to Tehuantepec, Mexico.
6. V. pusillus. Above grayish-ash, very slightly tinged
with olive on rump. Below dull white, ashy laterally, the
flanks with the slightest possible tinge of yellow. Wing,
2.30; tail, 2.20; tarsus, .69; bill, .24, .13 deep. _Hab._
Arizona; Cape St. Lucas, Lower California; California north
to Sacramento City.
7. V. vicinior. Above bluish-ash, below ashy-white,
scarcely more ashy laterally. Lores entirely ashy-white.
Wing, 2.60; tail, 2.40; tarsus, .67; bill, .26, .18 deep.
_Hab._ Fort Whipple, Arizona.
Vireo atricapillus, WOODHOUSE.