Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1802
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, letter to Étienne Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire dated 13 July 1802; Selected Papers, 2, part 1: 442.
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote to Étienne Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire (1772-1844) at the Paris Museum on 13 July 1802: "We have the Cheveche Strix passerina. How like it may be to that of Europe I do not know. They also are not common with us. I may resume this subject when I have more leisure, and better prepared to make the comparison" (Miller 1988: 443, Selected Papers, Vol. 2, part 1, Yale University Press).
Peale wrote, in his 14th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 79. Pigmy Speckled Owl. found in Pennsylvania, is perhaps the smallest species of owl, not exceeding 8 inches in length. The bill is blackish tipped with white. Iris pale yellow; head, back, and wing coverts brown, inclining to olive. Short and delicate stripes of white on the head, spots of white on the wing coverts. Pinion feathers and tail barred with white & brown. Belly grey striped with brown. Feet covered with down, claws black. Strix passerina Linn. la Cheveche Buff. coloured plate No. 439. Little Owl of Pennant No. 126, who says it inhabits from Hudson's Bay to New York. Called by the Indians of Hudson's bay Shipmospish. Live in all seasons among the pines; builds its nest half way up the tree; lays two eggs. [They] are the most solitary birds, keep close in their retreat the whole day; but are most active mousers during night. Frequent in Russia; less so in Sibiria. Edwards describes one considerably like it, rather larger, which came down a chimney near the town of London; another, also came down a chimney in Lambeth, from whence he thinks they are natives of England, though little known." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Later, in the same document, Peale listed a specimen of "Little Owl / Strix passerina" (No. 82) that he received from France" (i.e., a genuine specimen of the Eurasian pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum), which he had previously confused with the Northern Saw-Whet Owl. (ANSP Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "the Pigmy speckled owl (Strix Passirena) is also said to belong to Europe & America." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Little Owl / Strix passerina" in American Ornithology vol. 4 (Pl. 34), where "Peale's Museum, No. 522" was cited (Wilson 1811: 66). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175531#page/82/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175531#page/83/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Current Scientific Name
Strigidae | Aegolius acadicus
