Blue Grosbeak

SCI Name:  Passerina caerulea
Protonym:  Loxia caerulea Syst.Nat.ed.10 p.175
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Cardinalidae / Passerina
Taxonomy Code:  blugrb1
Type Locality:  Carolina ; restricted to South Carolina by Amer. Ornith. Union, 1931, Check-list North Amer. Birds, ed. 4, p. 315.
Author:  Linnaeus
Publish Year:  1758
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PASSERINA
(Cardinalidae; † Indigo Bunting P. cyanea) L. passerinus  sparrow-like (i.e. sparrow-sized)  < passer, passeris  sparrow; "55. PASSERINE, Passerina.  Fringilla, Emberiza, Linn. Gm. Lath.  Bec entier, moins large que la tête, un peu fort, droit, rétréci vers le bout, à bords inférieurs, quelquefois, les supérieurs fléchis en dedans, à ouverture dirigée obliquement et en en bas; mandibule supérieure à palais aplati, épais, lisse. — Ongle postérieur quelquefois plus long que le pouce, un peu crochu, ou droit et subulé.  3 sections.   Esp. Ministre. — Ortolan de riz, — de neige, Buff." (Vieillot 1816); "Passerina Vieillot, 1816, Analyse, p. 30.  Type, by subsequent designation (G. R. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, ed. 1, p. 46), "Le Ministre" of Buffon = Tanagra cyanea Linnaeus." (Paynter in Peters, 1970, XIII, pp. 237-238).
Synon. Aurella, Coccoborus, Cyanospiza, Goniaphea, Guiraca, Spiza.
• (Passerellidae; syn. Ammospiza † Saltmarsh Sparrow A. caudacutus) "AMMODRAMUS, Swains.  Oriolus, Gm.  Fringilla, Wils.  Passerina, Vieill.  Spiza, Bonap.   A. caudacutus, (Gm.) Swains.  Wils. Am. Orn., pl. 34. f. 3." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 46 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, A. caudacutus Gm., i.e. Oriolus caudacutus Gmelin, 1788." (JAJ 2021).
• (Emberizidae; syn. Emberiza † Yellowhammer E. citrinella) "EMBERIZA, L.  Fringilla, L.  Passerina, Vieill.  Cynchramus, Boie.   E. citrinella, L., Pl. enl. 30. f. 1." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 47 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, Emberiza citrinella Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2021).
• (Passerellidae; syn. Junco † Dark-eyed Junco J. hyemalis) "STRUTHUS, Bonap. nec Boie.  Emberiza, Gm.  Passerina, Vieill.   S. hyemalis, (Gm.) Bonap." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 46 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, S. hyemalis (Gm.), i.e. Fringilla hyemalis Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2021).
• (Passerellidae; syn. Passerculus † Savannah Sparrow P. sandwichensis) "PASSERCULUS, Bonap.  Fringilla, Wils.  Zonotrichia, Jard.  Passerina, Vieill.  Cynchramus, Boie.   P. savanus, (Wils.) Bonap.  Wils. Am. Orn., pl. 34. f. 4.  P. savannarum, Vieill." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 46 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, P. savanus (Wils.) = Emberiza sandwichensis Gmelin, 1789." (JAJ 2021).
• (Calcariidae; syn. Plectrophenax † Snow Bunting P. nivalis) "Genre PASSERINE, Passerina.  ...  Ce genre contient deux espèces qui ne sont que de passage en France.   1. PASSERINE DE NEIGE, Passerina nivalis.   ...   2. PASSERINE GRAND-MONTAIN, Emberiza lapponica" (Vieillot 1825); "Passerina Vieillot, 1825, Faune Française, Oiseaux, I, p. 85.  Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 47), Emberiza nivalis Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2021).
• (Passerellidae; syn. Spizella † Field Sparrow S. pusilla) "SPIZELLA, Bonap.  Fringilla, Wils.  Emberiza, Jard.  Passerina, Vieill.  Linaria, Boie.   S. pusilla, (Wils.) Bonap. Am. Orn., pl. 16. f. 2." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 46 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, Fringilla pusilla A. Wilson, 1810." (JAJ 2021).
• (Passerellidae; syn. Zonotrichia † White-crowned Sparrow Z. leucophrys) "ZONOTRICHIA, Swains.  Emberiza, Wils.  Spiza, Bonap.  Passerina, Vieill.   Z. leucophrys, (Wils.) Swains.  Wils. Am. Orn., pl. 31. f. 1." (G. Gray 1840); "Passerina "Vieill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 46 (nom. oblit.).  Type, by original designation, Z. leucophrys (Wils.), i.e. Emberiza leucophrys Forster, 1772." (JAJ 2021).

passerina
L. passerinus  sparrow-like (e.g. small)  < passer, passeris  sparrow (see passerinum).
● "92. COLUMBA.  ...  passerina.  22. C. rectricibus remigibusque obscurioribus, corpore purpurasecente, rostro pedibusque flavis.  Turtur minimus guttatus. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 305. t. 261. f. 3. Catesb. car. I. p. 26. t. 26.  Turtur minimus, alis maculosis. Raj. av. 184. n. 25.  Turtur barbadensis minimus. Raj. av. 62. n. 5. Will. orn. 135. t. 36.  Columba sylvestris minima brasiliensis. Raj. av. 62. n. 6.  Picuipinima. Marcgr. bras. 204.  Habitat in America inter tropicos.  Alæ extus tectricibus punctis s. maculis fuscis adspersæ." (Linnaeus 1758) (Columbina).
● ex “Borin” of Aldrovandus 1599-1603, Jonston 1650-1653, Ray 1713, and Willughby 1676, “Curruca minor” of Brisson 1760, “Passerinette” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 579, fig. 2, and de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Passerine Warbler” of Latham 1783 (syn. Sylvia cantillans).
● ex “Passerine Fly-catcher” of Latham 1787 (unident.).

caerulea
L. caeruleus  blue, azure-blue, sky-blue, dark-blue (can also mean dark, dark green, or black) (see also caeruleus).
● ex “Cotinga” of Brisson 1760, and “Cotinga du Brésil” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Cotinga cotinga).
● ex “Coucou bleu de Madagascar” of Brisson 1760 (Coua).
● "76. ARDEA.  ...  cærulea.  13. A. occipite cristato, corpore cæruleo.  Ardea major grisea cristata, capite nigro, vertice & ciliis albicantibus. Brown. jam. 478.  Ardea cærulea. Catesb. car. 1. p. 76. t. 76. Alb. av. 3. p. 74. t. 79. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 314. t. 264. f. 5. Raj. av. 189.  Habitat in America septentrionali." (Linnaeus 1758) (Egretta).
● ex “Other Blue Peteril” of Cook 1777, and “Blue Petrel” of J. R.. Forster 1777, and Latham 1785 (Halobaena).
● ex “Gobe-mouche bleu des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 666, fig. 1, “Petit azur” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Azure Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (syn. Hypothymis azurea).
● "97. LOXIA.  ...  cærulea.  L. cærulea, alis fuscis fascia baseos purpurea.  Coccothraustes cærulea. Catesb. car. 1. p. 39. t. 39.  Habitat in America." (Linnaeus 1758) (Passerina).
● ex “Moineau bleu de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 203, fig. 2, “Passe-bleu” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Blue Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Passerina cyanea).
● ex “Bruant bleu de Canada” of Brisson 1760 (?syn. Passerina cyanea).
● ex “Little Blue-grey Fly-catcher” of Edwards 1760, and “Figuier cendré de Pensilvanie” of Brisson 1760 (Polioptila).

SUBSPECIES

Blue Grosbeak (salicaria)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea salicaria
salicaria / salicarius
L. salictarius or salicarius  of willows  < salix, salicis  willow-tree.
● The Motacilla salicaria of Linnaeus, 1766, now treated as unidentifiable, was linked with the following species by earlier authors; Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (ex "Roussette" of Brisson 1760, and “Sedge-Warbler” of Latham 1783), Acrocephalus scirpaceus (ex “Salicaria” of Gessner 1555), Acrocephalus paludicola, Acrocephalus palustris, Hippolais icterina, Iduna caligata, Sylvia borin (ex “Salicaria” of Gessner 1555, and "Petite Fauvette" of Brisson 1760).

Blue Grosbeak (interfusa)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea interfusa
interfusa
L. interfusus  flowing between, stained  < interfundere  to pour between.

Blue Grosbeak (deltarhyncha)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea deltarhyncha
deltarhyncha
Gr. δελτα delta delta, the letter Δ (D); ῥυγχος rhunkhos bill.

Blue Grosbeak (caerulea)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea caerulea
caerulea
L. caeruleus  blue, azure-blue, sky-blue, dark-blue (can also mean dark, dark green, or black) (see also caeruleus).
● ex “Cotinga” of Brisson 1760, and “Cotinga du Brésil” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Cotinga cotinga).
● ex “Coucou bleu de Madagascar” of Brisson 1760 (Coua).
● "76. ARDEA.  ...  cærulea.  13. A. occipite cristato, corpore cæruleo.  Ardea major grisea cristata, capite nigro, vertice & ciliis albicantibus. Brown. jam. 478.  Ardea cærulea. Catesb. car. 1. p. 76. t. 76. Alb. av. 3. p. 74. t. 79. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 314. t. 264. f. 5. Raj. av. 189.  Habitat in America septentrionali." (Linnaeus 1758) (Egretta).
● ex “Other Blue Peteril” of Cook 1777, and “Blue Petrel” of J. R.. Forster 1777, and Latham 1785 (Halobaena).
● ex “Gobe-mouche bleu des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 666, fig. 1, “Petit azur” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Azure Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (syn. Hypothymis azurea).
● "97. LOXIA.  ...  cærulea.  L. cærulea, alis fuscis fascia baseos purpurea.  Coccothraustes cærulea. Catesb. car. 1. p. 39. t. 39.  Habitat in America." (Linnaeus 1758) (Passerina).
● ex “Moineau bleu de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 203, fig. 2, “Passe-bleu” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Blue Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Passerina cyanea).
● ex “Bruant bleu de Canada” of Brisson 1760 (?syn. Passerina cyanea).
● ex “Little Blue-grey Fly-catcher” of Edwards 1760, and “Figuier cendré de Pensilvanie” of Brisson 1760 (Polioptila).

Blue Grosbeak (eurhyncha)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea eurhyncha
eurhyncha
Gr. ευ eu  fine, good; ῥυγχος rhunkhos  bill.

Blue Grosbeak (chiapensis)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea chiapensis
chiapensis
Chiapas, Mexico.

Blue Grosbeak (lazula)
SCI Name: Passerina caerulea lazula
lazula
Med. L. lazulus  azure, deep-blue, lazuline.