Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 35. (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 35th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1678. Canada [blank] flycatcher. the throat and under part of the breast a fine yellow: a line of deep black passes from the eyes down each side of the neck to the breast, across which is distinct spots. the upper parts of the head, body, wings and tail a dark lead colour. on the head speckled with black; from the base of the bill a yellow line passes over each Eye. Muscicapa canadensis Linn. Gobe Mouche cendré de Canada. Buff. Canada Flycatcher Pennant & Latham. This was found in Pennsyla. But is a very rare bird. It agrees with the description of Penn. & Lath., or I should doubt." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "Canada Flycatcher (M. Canadensis) It has a yellow breast thick set with black spots, a rare bird here." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Canada Flycatcher / Muscicapa canadensis" in American Ornithology vol. 3 (Pl. 26), where "Peale's Museum, No. 6969" was cited (Wilson 1811: 100). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/120/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/108/mode/1up (plate)
Two unmounted specimens of "Muscicapa canadensis (Canada Flycatcher)" were listed in "A Catalogue of Duplicate Specimens...", May 1822. [unpublished] American Philosophical Society Library (Mss.B.P31).
Notes:
Peale’s specimen was probably a male as per Wilson’s (1811: 100) comment: “never having met with the female of this bird I am unable at present to say in what its colors differ from those of the male.”
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Canada Warbler
Current Scientific Name
Parulidae | Cardellina canadensis
