566 BULLETIN 2 03, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS IGNOTA Chapman 



FLORIDA YELLOWTHROAT 

 CONTKIBUTED BY AlFKED OtTO GrOSS 



Plate 69 



HABITS 



The Florida yellowtliroat was first described by Frank Chapman 

 (1890) based on an adult male in breeding plumage taken at Tarpon 

 Springs, Fla., May 19, 1887. His description is as follows: 



Above olive green with a slight, rusty tinge, somewhat lighter on the rump 

 and tail; wings brownish, the feathers edged with the color of the back, the 

 outer web of the first primary whitish, the carpal bend yellow. A broad black 

 facial mask includes laterally the eyes, auriculars, and sides of the throat, reach- 

 ing on the forehead to near the posterior margin of the eyes, and is bordered 

 by a band of hoary ash, which has no abrupt posterior termination but, suffusing 

 the crown, changes gradually into the color of the back. Under parts rich yellow, 

 whitish on the centre of the abdomen ; flanks rich ochraceous brown, the sides 

 of the breast slightly washed with the same color. Measurements : Wing 2.26 ; 

 tail, 2.32 ; tarsus, .84 ; exposed culmen, .50 inch. * * * 



Adult female in breeding plumage. * * * Similar in color to the male, but 

 without the black mask and ashy border, the crown being rusty brownish, paler 

 on the forehead. * * * 



Adult male in winter. Similar to adult male in the spring but darker above, 

 the ashy band bordering the black mask restricted to a narrow line ; crown 

 rich rusty brown, brighter anteriorly, where also the feathers have more or less 

 ashy and yellowish bases, and fading gradually into the color of the back; 

 abdomen somewhat paler. * * * 



Adult female in winter. Similar to adult fall specimens of trichas, but darker 

 above, with the yellow of the breast and underparts washed with brownish. 



Immature birds. Immature birds of both sexes are not readily distinguish- 

 able from wintering northern specimens, and from the nature of the case there 

 are at this season specimens showing every degree of intergradation, both as 

 regards size and coloration. Generally speaking the resident birds are slightly 

 darker above, with the marking of the under-surface deeper in color and of 

 greater extent. 



The Florida yellow-throat is similar to the Maryland yellow-throat, but with 

 a longer tarsus, tail, and bill ; yellow of underparts of a deeper shade and 

 greater extent; flanks of a much darker color; the upper parts browner; the 

 facial mask wider, with its ashy border (in summer specimens) slightly paler 

 and of greater extent. First primary shorter, equalling the eighth instead of 

 the sixth, as in the Maryland yellow-throat. 



The breeding range of the Florida yellowthroat as formerly defined 

 included the region from the Dismal Swamp region of Virginia, the 

 coast of South Carolina, central Alabama, and central Georgia to 

 Florida and along the Gulf coast to Louisiana. Since the Athens 

 yellowthroat {typhicola) has been recognized, the breeding range 

 does not extend farther north on the Atlantic coast than northern 



