Breeds from Texas along the coast to Massachusetts. Never in the interior. Resident in the Southern States. Very abundant.
Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 70.
Shore Finch, Fringilla littoralis, Nutt. Man, v. i. p. 504.
Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 281; v. v. p. 499.
175. 4. Ammodramus palustris, Wils. Marsh Shore-Finch. Swamp Sparrow.
Bill shorter than in the other species; tail-feathers less acuminate; upper part of head deep chestnut-red, streaked with black; hind part and sides of the neck light bluish-grey, cheeks dusky brown; a greyish-yellow streak over the eye; upper parts of body yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black; wing-coverts and secondaries broadly edged with yellowish-red, primaries with duller red; tail similar; throat greyish-white, with two small dusky streaks, the rest of the fore neck and part of the breast pale bluish-grey, the abdomen whitish, the sides yellowish-brown, streaked with dusky.
From Texas to North Carolina in winter. Spreads in spring and summer to the Missouri westward, and to Labrador eastward. Abundant.
Swamp Swallow, Fringilla palustris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 49.
Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla Georgiana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 502.
Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palustris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 331; v. v. p. 508.
Bill of moderate length, rather stout, straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line somewhat convex, the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, with the notches obsolete, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, roundish, partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body moderately stout. Tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, very slender, hind toe rather large, lateral toes about equal, outer adherent at the base. Claws of moderate length, very slender, extremely compressed, arched, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft, blended. Wings very short, convex, rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the first and seventh about equal. Tail rather long, graduated, of twelve narrow rounded feathers. No difference in the colours of the sexes. Name from [Greek: Peuchê], a pine.