Worm-eating Warbler

SCI Name:  Helmitheros vermivorum
Protonym:  Motacilla vermivora Syst.Nat. 1 pt2 p.951
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Parulidae / Helmitheros
Taxonomy Code:  woewar1
Type Locality:  Pennsylvania ; restricted to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Amer. Ornith. Union, 1931, Check-list North Amer. Birds, ed. 4, p. 281.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1789
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HELMITHEROS
(Parulidae; Ϯ Worm-eating Warbler H. vermivorum) Gr. ἑλμινς helmins, ἑλμινθος helminthos  worm; -θηρας -thēras  -hunter  < θηραω thēraō  to hunt  < θηρ thēr, θηρος thēros  beast, animal; the name of the Worm-eating Warbler derives from its fondness not for worms but for the worm-like caterpillars of small moths; "On dissection I have uniformly found their stomachs filled with spiders or caterpillars, or both" (A. Wilson 1811);"4. HELMITHEROS. Différent du genre Sylvia par bec un peu courbe, mandibule supérieure arrondie non échancrée.  Le type de ce genre est la Fauvette vermivore, ou Wormeater Warbler de Wilson, que je nomme H. migratorius." (Rafinesque 1819); "Helmitheros Rafinesque, 1819, Journ. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat., 88, p. 418. Type, by original designation, Helmitheros migratorius Rafinesque = Motacilla vermivora Gmelin." (Lowery & Monroe in Peters, 1968, XIV, p. 37).
Var. Helmintherus, Helmintheras, Helmintheros, Helminthotheras, Helminthotherium, Helminthotherus, Helmithera, Helmitherus.
Synon. Helinaia, Ramphosteon.

vermivora / vermivorum / vermivorus
L. vermis  worm; -vorus  -eating  < vorare  to devour.
● ex “Contramaestre coronado” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 153 (syn. Basileuterus auricapillus).
● ex “Ficedula pensilvanica” of Brisson 1760, “Worm-eater” of Edwards 1760, Latham 1783, and Pennant 1785, and “Demi-fin mangeur de vers” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Helmitheros).