Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 37. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 37th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1908. Crested Titmouse of America. Length 6 Inches. Bill 5 ½ lines long; black on the forehead; just above the bill is a black spot; the head is furnished with a long pointed crest, which, with all the upper parts of the body, is deep grey; the under parts, reddish white, deepest on the sides; quills and tail rufous grey; feet lead colour. Parus bicolor Linn. Le Mésange huppé de la Caroline. Buff. Crested Titmouse. Catesby pl. 57. No. 1909. Female, differs from male in having less of the red on the breast & sides. These birds are found in Pennsylvania and all the states southward. I do not know whether they are found more northerly. Latham says they are found in Denmark and southern parts of Greenland, where it is called Wingarsak. It flies swiftly; and during flight folds up the wing frequently, when it utters a weak note." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
On 27 June 1805, "A Tit-bird Vulgarly Called, of Georgia", donated by August Gottlieb Oemler, was entered in the Peale Museum Accessions Book, p. 9 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481).
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Crested Titmouse / Parus bicolor" in American Ornithology vol. 1 (Pl. 8), where "Peale's Museum No. 7364" was cited (Wilson 1808: 137). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175530#page/165/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175530#page/149/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Tufted Titmouse
Current Scientific Name
Paridae | Baeolophus bicolor
