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. 1670. Black & Orange Flycatcher. this name designates the Bird, therefore I have deviated from Pennant and Catesby. The first calls it Black headed, and the latter Red-start. The head, neck, breast, back and wings, Black; the under part of the wings & a bar on the upper, is a bright orange colour. Orange on the upper part of the outside quills of the tail; the under part of the breast white. Muscicapa ruticilla Linn. Le Gobe-mouche d'Amerique Buff. Redstart Edwards No. 80. [No.] 1671. Female is brown on the top of the head, back, wings & tail, and marked with bars on the wings and tail as the male, but of a faint yellow; the under parts white and pale yellow under the wings. They inhabit New York and all the southern states. It is also said to be found at Hudson's bay. Retreat to Jamaica, and perhaps other of the Antiles during winter." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "The Black and Orange flycatcher (M. ruticilla) is a gay bird of the thick woods, the female brown & yellow." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "American Redstart / Muscicapa ruticilla" in American Ornithology vol. 1 (Pl. 6), where "Peale's Museum No. 6658" was cited (Wilson 1808: 103).
Three unmounted specimens of "Muscicapa ruticilla (Redstart)" were listed in "A Catalogue of Duplicate Specimens...", May 1822. [unpublished] American Philosophical Society Library (Mss.B.P31).
Notes:
An immature male was depicted under the name “Redstart / Muscicapa ruticilla” in American Ornithology vol. 5 (1812: 119, Pl. 45), but without a Peale citation.
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
American Redstart
Current Scientific Name
Parulidae | Setophaga ruticilla
