_Icterus icterocephalus_, BONAP. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 27, pl. iii.—NUTT. Man. I, 1832, 176.—IB., (2d ed.,) 187 (not _Oriolus icterocephalus_, LINN.). _Agelaius icterocephalus_, CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1851, 188. _Icterus_ (_Xanthornus_) _xanthocephalus_, BONAP. J. A. N. Sc. V, II, Feb. 1826, 222.—IB. Syn. 1828, 52. _Icterus xanthocephalus_, AUD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 6, pl. ccclxxxviii. _Agelaius xanthocephalus_, SWAINSON, F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 281.—BON. List, 1838.—AUD. Syn. 1839, 140.—IB. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 24, pl. ccxiii.—NEWBERRY, Zoöl. Cal. and Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, IV, 1857, 86.—MAX. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 361.—HEERM. X, S, 52 (nest). _Agelaius longipes_, SWAINSON, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436. _Psarocolius perspicillatus_, “LICHT.” WAGLER, Isis, 1829. VII, 753. _Icterus perspicillatus_, “LICHT. in Mus.” WAGLER, as above. _Xanthocephalus perspicillatus_, BONAP. Consp. 1850, 431. _Icterus frenatus_, LICHT. Isis, 1843, 59.—REINHARDT, in Kroyer’s Tidskrift, IV.—IB. Vidensk. Meddel. for 1853, 1854, 82 (Greenland). _Xanthocephalus icterocephalus_, BAIRD, M. B. II, Birds, 18; Birds N. Am. 1858, 531.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 267. SP. CHAR. First quill nearly as long as the second and third (longest), decidedly longer than the fourth. Tail rounded, or slightly graduated. General color black, including the inner surface of wings and axillaries, base of lower mandible all round, feathers adjacent to nostrils, lores, upper eyelids, and remaining space around the eye. The head and neck all round; the forepart of the breast, extending some distance down on the median line, and a somewhat hidden space round the anus, yellow. A conspicuous white patch at the base of the wing formed by the spurious feathers, interrupted by the black alula. _Female_ smaller, browner; the yellow confined to the under parts and sides of the head, and a superciliary line. A dusky maxillary line. No white on the wing. Length of male, 10 inches; wing, 5.60; tail, 4.50. [Illustration: _Xanthocephalus icterocephalus._] HAB. Western America from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Red River, to California, south into Mexico; Greenland (REINHARDT); Cuba (CABANIS, J. VII, 1859, 350); Massachusetts (MAYNARD, D. C. Mass. 1870, 122); Volusia, Florida (Mus. S. I.); Cape St. Lucas. The color of the yellow in this species varies considerably; sometimes being almost of a lemon-yellow, sometimes of a rich orange. There is an occasional trace of yellow around the base of the tarsus. Immature males show every gradation between the colors of the adult male and female.