What is Regulus cuvieri? (1 Viewer)

[Melanie]

Why it is so difficult to identify Regulus cuvieri (known from a plate in Audubon's Birds of America)?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Can only find this and it won't let me post a link hence te screen shot.

 

[Andy Adcock]

This is all the text from the box on the right.

• Order Reproduction
• Title
• Cuvier's Regulus. Plate LV (55)
  Cuvier's Kinglet
• Creator
• Audubon, John James, 1785-1851.
• Contributor
• Havell, Robert, 1793-1878.
• Date
• 1827-1838
• Identifier
• aud0055
• Description
• Cuvier's Regulus, / Regulus cuvierii. / Male. / Broad-leaved Kalmia or Laurel Kalmia latifolia.
  J WHATMAN TURKEY MILL 1832
• Extent
• 19.5 x 12.25
• Place of Publication
• London
• Type
• still image
• Genre
• art
• Subject
• Birds--North America
  Birds--Pictorial works
• Source
• The Birds of America, Vols. I-IV, 1827-1838
  Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System.
• Collection
• Audubon's Birds of America
  Darlington Digital Library
• Contributor
• University of Pittsburgh

 

[Melanie]

There are several Regulus species in North America, but there was never a study which shed a light on the real identity of Audubon's mysterious bird. The question is, why?

 

[Andy Adcock]

There are several Regulus species in North America, but there was never a study which shed a light on the real identity of Audubon's mysterious bird. The question is, why?

I think it's accpted that Audubon was in error.

John James Audubon: Confused, Wrong, or Neither?

Audubon painted a bunch of birds that no one has seen since. We explore the most likely options behind the mystery birds.

www.audubon.org