MacGillivray’s warbler, scientifically known as Geothlypis tolmiei, is a small songbird found in western North America. It is named after the Scottish naturalist and ornithologist William MacGillivray, who first described the species in 1852.
MacGillivray’s warbler is a striking yellow and gray songbird with a bold black eye stripe. It breeds in the western United States and Canada and migrates to Mexico for the winter. Its scientific name honors William MacGillivray, who was the first to describe this species to science based on a specimen collected along the Columbia River in 1852.
William MacGillivray was a renowned Scottish naturalist and ornithologist in the 19th century. He made significant contributions to the study of natural history through his field work, collections, illustrations, and writings. Several North American bird species are named after him, including MacGillivray’s seabird, MacGillivray’s warbler, and MacGillivray’s finch.
Who Was William MacGillivray?
William MacGillivray was born in 1796 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He developed a keen interest in natural history and ornithology from a young age. As a young man, MacGillivray assisted the prominent botanist William Hooker on collecting expeditions in Scotland.
In 1823, MacGillivray was appointed conservator of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He curated the museum’s natural history collections and taught classes in ornithology. During this time, he also worked closely with renowned ornithologist Prideaux John Selby on the landmark publication Illustrations of Ornithology.
MacGillivray contributed over 1,000 illustrations of birds to the work, which was considered one of the most important ornithological publications of its time. He also penned several articles on ornithology for the 7th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica in the 1830s.
Expeditions to North America
In the late 1830s and 1840s, MacGillivray embarked on three expeditions to North America to study the natural history of eastern and western parts of the continent:
- 1838-1839 – Traveled to Harris Neck on the coast of Georgia with John James Audubon to study and collect southeastern birds.
- 1840-1842 – Joined the HMS Rattlesnake on a voyage to Australia and the Pacific, collecting natural history specimens in South America, Australia, and islands of the Pacific.
- 1843-1846 – Appointed naturalist for the HMS Virago on a 3-year voyage along the Pacific coast of North America, from Panama to Alaska.
These expeditions allowed MacGillivray to extensively document the flora and fauna of western North America first-hand. He collected many new-to-science bird specimens, several of which were later named in his honor, including MacGillivray’s warbler.
Discovery and Description of MacGillivray’s Warbler
During his 1843-1846 expedition along the Pacific coast of North America aboard the HMS Virago, MacGillivray collected the first known specimens of the warbler species that now bears his name. At Fort Vancouver in 1852, he obtained three specimens of the bird, which represented a new undescribed species.
In 1858, the prominent American ornithologist John Cassin formally described and named the new warbler species Geothlypis tolmiei, honoring MacGillivray’s contribution. The species name tolmiei recognized Dr. William Fraser Tolmie, another naturalist on the same 1843-46 expedition, who also collected early specimens.
In his original species description, Cassin included the following dedication to MacGillivray:
To the eminent naturalist, William McGillivray, Esq., of Aberdeen, Scotland, in consideration of the very important services rendered by him to Ornithology, by his researches in the United States, and his voyage round the world in H. B. M. Ship Rattlesnake, as naturalist to the expedition, during which he made extensive zoological collections, I dedicate this new and handsome species of Warbler, discovered by himself, while attached to the scientific corps of H. B.M. Ship Virago. – Cassin 1858
MacGillivray’s Original Specimens
MacGillivray’s original 1843 specimens of the warbler collected from Fort Vancouver represented the first tangible evidence of this species existence. These invaluable specimens were carefully prepared by MacGillivray and transported back to Scotland along with his many other natural history collections.
Today, two of MacGillivray’s original warbler specimens are preserved in the collections of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh, where they represent an important piece of ornithological history and MacGillivray’s contributions to science.
MacGillivray’s Characteristics and Scientific Contributions
William MacGillivray was renowned for his sharp observational skills, attention to detail, and artistic talents. These skills allowed him to make accurate field observations and produce detailed illustrations of birds and other wildlife that depicted key identifying characteristics.
MacGillivray published over 1,250 illustrations of birds throughout his career. His illustrations were prized for their scientific accuracy and exquisite detail in capturing plumage patterns and colors. His written descriptions of species also provided comprehensive details of anatomy, behavior, habitat, and distribution.
In addition to his formal species descriptions, MacGillivray produced several seminal ornithological works during his career:
- A History of British Birds – A 5-volume work published 1837-1852, detailing the biology and classification of over 500 species found in Britain and Europe.
- The Natural History of Dee Side and Braemar – An 1855 natural history of his native region of Scotland.
- Travels and Researches of Alexander von Humboldt – An admired 1862 biography of the esteemed naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.
MacGillivray was an active member of eminent scientific societies such as the Edinburgh Botanical Society, Edinburgh Geological Society, and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He was widely respected during his lifetime as a preeminent naturalist, ornithologist, and illustrator.
His most enduring legacy lives on through the bird species that bear his name across North America, Australia, and the Pacific. These include species such as MacGillivray’s warbler, MacGillivray’s finch, and MacGillivray’s honeyeater, among others.
Bird Species Named for MacGillivray | Scientific Name | Range |
---|---|---|
MacGillivray’s warbler | Geothlypis tolmiei | Western North America |
MacGillivray’s seaside finch | Aphriza virgata | Pacific coasts of North and South America |
MacGillivray’s prion | Pachyptila macgillivrayi | Subantarctic islands |
MacGillivray’s honeyeater | Macgregoria pulchra | Australia |
Conclusion
In summary, MacGillivray’s warbler was named in honor of William MacGillivray, a preeminent 19th century Scottish naturalist and ornithologist. MacGillivray first collected the species that now bears his name during an expedition along the Pacific coast of North America from 1843-1846.
In 1858, the warbler was formally described as a new species and given the scientific name Geothlypis tolmiei by John Cassin. The name honored both MacGillivray for collecting the first specimens in 1843, and William Tolmie who also gathered specimens from Fort Vancouver in 1846.
Throughout his career, William MacGillivray made major contributions to ornithology through his explorations, field observations, exquisite illustrations, and scholarly publications. His careful study of birds in the field allowed him to produce accurate and detailed descriptions of many species new to science.
MacGillivray’s warbler stands as a fitting and lasting tribute to this pioneering naturalist and ornithologist who significantly advanced the study of birds in the 19th century. The vibrant yellow and gray warbler bearing his name continues to grace the forests of western North America each spring, as a living reminder of MacGillivray’s respected legacy in science and exploration.