SITTELLA LEUCOPTERA, Gould.
White-winged Sittella.
Sittella leucoptera, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 144.
The present bird, which is a native of the northern parts of Australia, is a perfect representative of the Sittella chrysoptera of the south coast, to which species it is most nearly allied. The contrasted style of its plumage, together with the white spot in the wings, sufficiently distinguish it from every other species of the genus yet discovered. It is found in the Cobourg Peninsula, but is nowhere very abundant: it is mostly met with in small families of from four to twelve in number. Its note, actions and general habits are precisely similar to those of the other members of the genus.
The sexes differ from each other in the markings of the head; the male has the summit only black, while the female has the whole of the head and ear-coverts of that colour.
The male has the forehead, crown of the head and occiput deep black; wings black, with a broad band of white crossing the primaries near the base; tail black, the lateral feathers tipped with white; throat, under surface and upper tail-coverts white; under tail-coverts white, with a spot of black near the tip of each feather; back greyish brown, the centre of each feather streaked with blackish brown; irides ochre-yellow; eyelash straw-yellow; bill straw-yellow, tipped with black; legs and feet lemon-yellow.
The Plate represents the two sexes and an immature bird of the natural size.