HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF THE Museum of Comparative Zoology ivtUS. COMP. ZOOU LIBRARY DEC 1 1 1968 HARVARD JUNlVERS.IX>!i CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS OF THE WORLD VOLUME XIV CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS OF THE WORLD A Continuation of the Work of James L. Peters Edited by RAYMOND A. PAYNTER, JR. In consultation with Ernst Mayr VOLUME XIV Parulidae Drepanididae Vireonidae Icteridae Fringillinae Carduelinae Estrildidae Viduinae By EMMET R. BLAKE, JAMES C. GREENWAY, JR. THOMAS R. HOWELL, GEORGE H. LOWERY, JR. ERNST MAYR, BURT L. MONROE, JR., RAYMOND A. PAYNTER, JR., AUSTIN L. RAND, AND MELVIN A. TRAYLOR CAMBRIDGE • MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 1968 COPYRIGHT, 1968 BY THE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OP HARVARD COLLEGE .on MUS. COM P. ZOOL. LIBRARY DEC 1 1 it.ob HARVARD UNIVERSITY^ THE HEFFERNAN PRESS, INC. WORCESTER, MASS. INTRODUCTION The eight taxa covered in this volume (Parulidae, Drepan- ididae, Vireonidae, Icteridae, Fringillidae, CardueHnae, Es- trildidae, and Viduinae) contain only about six percent of the living species of birds, but these are among the best known of the entire class. For many of these species there is comparatively abundant information on their natural his- tory, general biology, physiology, ethology, and even genet- ics. A comparable amount of data could not be found for any similar assemblage of birds. However, in spite of the abun- dance of taxonomically useful information, or more probably because of it, the systematics of these birds are among the most unsettled and controversial in the Class Aves. One would hope that each volume of the Check-list would have a useful life span of at least a few decades. But, even though the authors have adopted a conservative approach and avoided recent radical innovations. Volume XIV, cover- ing birds of interest to so many biologists, ranging from physiologists to ethologists, will certainly show its age ear- lier than other volumes in the series. If this volume is a touchstone from which rapid advances and changes are made, then it will have served an important function. Once again the editor is grateful for the cooperation of the authors and to those who read manuscripts and offered suggestions. I have been fortunate in having the editorial assistance of Mrs. Nanette W. Plotkin; the short interval between this volume and the last to be published (Vol. XII, 1967) is largely due to her efforts. Mrs. Michael D. McBride has continued to contribute her time and skill in preparing the index. Manuscript for this volume was completed 1 July 1968. Only minor modifications were made after this date. 3 September 1968 Raymond A. Paynter, Jr. CONTENTS Order passeriformes 3 Suborder Oscines 3 Family Parulidae, Wood Warblers, by George H. Lowery, Jr. and Burt L. Monroe, Jr 3 Genus Mniotilta Vieillot 4 Vermivora Swainson 4 Parula Bonaparte 10 Dendroica G. R. Gray 14 Catharopeza P. L. Sclater 33 Setophaga Swainson 33 Seiurus Swainson 34 Limnothlypis Stone 36 Helmitheros Rafinesque 37 Protonotaria Baird 37 GeothlypiS Cabanis 38 Microligea Cory 48 Teretistris Cabanis 49 Leucopeza P. L. Sclater 49 Wilsonia Bonaparte 49 Cardellina Bonaparte 51 Ergaticus Baird 52 Myioborus Baird 52 Euthlypis Cabanis 59 Basileuterus Cabanis 59 Phaeothlypis Todd 75 Genera Incertae Sedis 77 Genus Peucedramus Henshaw 77 Xenoligea Bond 79 Granatellus Bonaparte 79 Icteria Vieillot 81 Conirostrum Lafresnaye and d'Orbigny ... 82 Coereba Vieillot 87 Family Drepanididae, Hawaiian Honeycreepers, by James C. Greenway, Jr 93 Genus Himatione Cabanis 94 Palmeria Rothschild 94 Vestiaria Jarocki 95 Drepanis Temminck 95 Ciridops Newton 96 Viridonia Rothschild 96 Hemignathus Lichtenstein 97 Subgenus Hemignathus Lichtenstein 97 Heterorhynchus Lafresnaye 98 Genus Loxops Cabanis 99 Paroreomyza Perkins 99 Vlll CONTENTS Pseudonestor Rothschild 101 Psittirostra Temminck 101 Loxioides Oustalet 101 Family Vireonidae, Peppershrikes, Shrike-Vireos, and Vireos, by Emmet R. Blake 103 Subfamily Cyclarhinae 103 Genus Cyclarhis Swaiyison 103 Subfamily Vireolaniinae 108 Genus Vireolanius Bonaparte 108 Subgenus Vireolanius Bonaparte 108 Smaragdolanius Griscom 109 Subfamily Vireoninae 110 Genus Vireo Vieillot 110 Subgenus Neochloe P. L. Sclater Ill Vireo Vieillot 112 Vireosylva Bonaparte 121 Genus Hylophilus Temminck 129 Family Icteridae, American Orioles and Blackbirds, by Emmet R. Blake 138 Subfamily Icterinae 138 Genus Psarocolius Wagler 138 Subgenus Psarocolius Wagler 139 Gymnostinops P. L. Sclater 142 Genus Cacicus Lacepede 144 Subgenus Cac'cus Lacepede 144 Amblycerus Cabanis 148 Genus Icterus Brisson 149 Nesopsar P. L. Sclater 165 Xanthopsar Ridgivay 166 Gymnomystax Reichenbach 166 Xanthocephalus Bonaparte 166 Agelaius Vieillot ... 167 Leistes Vigors 175 Pezites Cabanis 176 Sturnella Vieillot 177 Pseudoleistes P. L. Sclater 181 Amblyramphus Leach 182 Hypopyrrhus Bonaparte 182 Curaeus P. L. Sclater 182 Gnorimopsar Richmond 183 Oreopsar W. L. Sclater 184 Lampropsar Cabanis 184 Macroagelaius Cassin 185 Dives Deppe 186 Quiscalus Vieillot 187 Subgenus Cassidix Lesson 188 Quiscalus Vieillot 190 CONTENTS IX Holoquiscalus Cassin 192 Genus Euphagus Cassin 194 Molothrus Swainson 195 Scaphidura Swainson 200 Subfamily Dolichonychinae 201 Genus Dolichonyx Swainson 201 Family Fringillidae 202 Subfamily Fringillinae, Chaffinches and Brambling, by Ernst Mayr 202 Genus Fringilla Linnaeus 203 Subfamily Carduelinae, Serins, Goldfinches, Linnets, Rose Finches, Grosbeaks, and Allies, by Thomas R. Howell, Raymond A. Paynter, Jr., and Austin L. Rand 207 Genus Serinus Koch 208 Neospiza Salvadori 231 Linurgus Reichenbach 232 Rhynchostruthus P. L. Sclater and Hartlaiib . 233 Carduelis Brisson 234 Acanthis Borkhaiisen 250 Leucosticte Swainson 257 Callacanthis Bonaparte 262 Rhodopechys Cabanis 262 Uragus Keyserling and Blasius 265 Urocynchramus Przewalski 266 Carpodacus Kaup 267 Chaunoproctus Bonaparte 283 Pinicola Vieillot 283 Haematospiza Blyth 286 Loxia Linnaeus 287 Pyrrhula Brisson 293 Coccothraustes Brisson 299 Subgenus Coccothraustes Brisson 299 Mycerobas Cabanis 302 Genus Pyrrhoplectes Hodgson 305 Family Estrildidae, Waxbills, Grass Finches, and Mannikins, by Ernst Mayr, Raymond A. Paynter, Jr., and Melvin A. Traylor 306 Waxbills (Estrildae) 308 Genus Parmoptila Cassin 308 Nigrita Strickland 308 Nesocharis Alexander 311 Pytilia Swainson 312 Mandingoa Hartert 315 Cryptospiza Salvadori 316 Pyrenestes Swainson 318 Spermophaga Swainson 321 Clytospiza Shelley 322 X CONTENTS Hypargos Reichenbach 323 Euschistospiza Wolters 324 Lagonosticta Cabanis 325 Uraeginthus Cabanis 331 Estrilda Swainson 336 Amandava Blyth 348 Ortygospiza Sundevall 349 Grass Finches (Poephilae) 352 Genus Aegintha Cabanis 352 Emblema Gould 353 Oreostruthus De Vis 355 Neochmia Gray 356 Poephila Gould 357 Subgenus Taeniopygia Reichenbach 357 Poephila Gould 359 Mannikins (Lonchurae) 361 Genus Erythrura Swainson 361 Subgenus Reichenowia Poche 361 Erythrura Swainson 362 Acalanthe Reichenbach 365 Rhamphostruthus Mayr 366 Genus Chloebia Reichenbach 367 Aidemosyne Reichenbach 367 Lonchura Sykes 368 Subgenus Euodice Reichenbach 368 Spermestes Swainson 369 Lonchura Sykes 372 Heteromunia Mathews 387 Genus Padda Reichenbach 387 Amadina Sivainson 388 Genus Incertae Sedis 389 Genus Pholidornis Hartlaub 389 Family Ploceidae 390 Subfamily Viduinae, Indigo-birds and Whydahs, by Melvin A. Traylor 390 Genus Vidua Cuvier 391 Subgenus Hypochera Bonaparte 391 Vidua Cuvier 394 Steganura Reichenbach 396 Index 399 CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS OF THE WORLD VOLUME XIV . Order passeriformes Suborder OSCINES Family PARULIDAEi 2 George H. Lowery, Jr. and Burt L. Monroe, Jr. cf. Ridgway, 1902, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 50, pt. 2, pp. 398- 761 (North and Middle America). Hellmayr, 1935, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ., Zool. Ser., 13, pt. 8, pp. 284-526 (North and South America). Zimmer, 1942, Amer. Mus. Novit., no. 1193, pp. 4-16 (Coereba, Peru). , 1949, Amer. Mus. Novit, no. 1428, pp. 2-59 (Peru). Bent, 1950, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 179, pp. 379-382 (life history Coereba flaveola bahamensis) , 1953, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 203, 734 pp. (life histories North American Parulidae). Bond, 1956, Check-list Birds West Indies, ed. 4, pp. 140- 164; plus supplements for 1956 to 1967. Amer. Ornith. Union, 1957, Check-list North Amer. Birds, ed. 5, pp. 477-520. Griscom and Sprunt (editors), 1957, Warblers Amer., xii + 356 pp. (life histories, song, distribution). Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957, Pacific Coast Avifauna (Cooper Ornith. Soc), no. 33, pp. 236-274 (Mexico). Bond, 1961, Birds West Indies, pp. 188-210. 1 Of the genera previously (e.g., Hellmayr, 1935, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ., Zool. Ser., 13, pt. 8, pp. 218-331) placed in the "Family Coerebidae," Coereba and Conirostruvi (including Ateleodacnis) are, provisionally, here appended to the Parulidae. The other genera (Diglossa, Chlorophanes, Iridophanes, Cyanerpes, Dacnis, Hemidacnis, Xenodacnis, Oreomanes, and Euneomis) have been transferred to the Thraupinae, Further studies (e.g., Skutch, 1962, Condor, 64, pp. 113- 116) have indicated the possibility that Coereba is so distinct that it might be best treated as a monotypic family, and that Conirostrum may be related to the Emberizine finches. Consequently, we have placed both these genera among the genera incertae sedis at the end of the family. — G. H. L., Jr. and B. L. M., Jr. 2 MS read by J. Bond, J. P. Hubbard, K. C. Parkes, and R. W. Storer. 4 CHECK-LIST OF BIRDS OF THE WORLD Skutch, 1962, Condor, 64, pp. 92-116. Phelps and Phelps, Jr., 1963, Boh Soc. Venezolana Cienc. Nat, 24 (104, 105), pp. 313-339 (Venezuela). Mengel,