15G 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
THE YELLOW-WINGED BUNTING. 
Emberiza passerina. 
PLATE LXVI. FIG. 150. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Fringillapasserina. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 7G, pi. 24, fig. 5. 
F. (Spizn) passerina. Bonaparte, Ann Lyc. Nat. Hist. Now-York, Vol 2, p. 109. 
Fringilla id. Audubon, fol. pi. 130; Orn. Biog. VoL2, p. 180, and Vol. 5, p. 197. 
Savannah Finch, or Yellow-shouldered Sparrow . Nuttall, Man. Ornilh. Vol. 1, p. 494. 
Coturniculus id. Bonaparte, Geog. List, p. 32. 
E. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 73, pi. 102 (male). Giraup, Bircls of Long island, p. 103. 
Characteristics. Line over the eyes, lesser wing-coverts and shoulder, yellow. Breast 
brownish drab. Centre of the breast dull white. Length, 4-5 inches. 
Description. Bill very stout and short, slightly arched; the upper mandible extending 
over the lower, and slightly notched at the tip. First and second quills longest, subequal. 
Tail with acute feathers, emarginate and rounded, extending 1'0 beyond the tips of the 
closed wings. Hind claw elongated, slightly arched. 
Color of the head, blackish, with a while central streak and a yellow line over each eye. 
Back of the neck with rust-colored spols. Back varied with black, brown and white : the 
yellow line over the eye, passes into dull white beyond it. Middle of the breast and the vent 
soiled white. Quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with whitish. Edge of the wing, at 
the shoulder, bright yellow. Female ■ central stripe on the crown cream-color. 
Length, 4’5-5'0. Alar extent, 7"5—8’0. 
This little Sparrow appears in this State about the first week in May, and remains with us 
in large numbers to the end of October. It doubtless breeds here, but I have never seen its 
nest, which is stated to be placed on the ground, and to contain four or five dingy white eggs 
sprinkled with brown spots. Its food consists of insects and their larvaj, and of the seeds of 
grasses and other planls. The history of its migrations is incomplete. It has been observed 
in Mexico, Texas, and on the shores of the Columbia river. In its progress northward along 
the Atlantic coast from Texas, it has not yet been observed in any of the States south of 
Maryland, where it is first seen, and thence through Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, New-York 
and Connecticut, which is its farthest eastern limit yet observed. Peabody does not men¬ 
tion it among the birds of Massachusetts. I have noticed it abundantly on Long island, and 
in Rockland and the neighboring counties. 
