Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 34. (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 34th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 1591. White throat Sparrow. Black on the top of the head with a fine line of white in the center. Bright yellow from the bill on each side to the Eye & over, from thence to the hind white. The throat is a faint white; breast cenerious & white towards the tail. Back wings & tail, russet brown striped with black & white. Fringilla albicollis Linn. White throat Finch Pennant & Latham. White throated Sparrow Edwards No. 304. They are pretty common in Pennsylvania in the summer & winter to the southward. Mr. William Barthrim [sic, =Bartram, 1739-1823] sent a drawing of it to Mr. [George] Edwards [1694-1773], from whom all the authors have described it. No. 1592. Female, is rather less than the male, the plumage the same but less vivid." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "White throated Sparrow (F. Albicollis) it was first described by Wm. Bartram." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "White-throated Sparrow / Fringilla albicollis" in American Ornithology vol. 3 (Pl. 22), where "Peale's Museum, No. 6486" was cited (Wilson 1811: 51). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/63/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175516#page/60/mode/1up (plate)
Notes:
Peale erred when he stated "They are pretty common in Pennsylvania in the summer & winter to the southward." In fact, this species only breeds in certain mountainous areas of Pennsylvania in summer, and regularly visits Philadelphia only during the winter months.
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
White-throated Sparrow
Current Scientific Name
Passerellidae | Zonotrichia albicollis
