Bill stout, culmen curved, neither cered nor hooked; tail-feathers ten in number, usually long, broad, and not noticeably stiffened; outermost pair of rectrices much shorter than the others; first and fourth toes directed backward; front toes free. Nesting habits variable, some species are parasitic, while others build bulky nests and raise their young in the normal manner.
Characters same as those given for the Order.
A pointed occipital crest; wing short and rounded, primaries extending but little beyond the secondaries; tail much longer than wing; tail-feathers graduated; sexes similar in color.
Mindanao (Everett); Palawan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese countries, southern and central China, Ceylon, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes.
“Adult male.—Entire upper half of head black, strongly glossed with blue on the crest; across the back of the neck a clear white collar; back black, strongly glossed with greenish blue, and passing into glossy olive-green on the scapulars and inner portion of wings; remainder of wings chestnut, with brown ends to the quills; tail glossy violet-black, most of the feathers, especially the outer ones, partially tipped with white; throat chestnut-buff; chest buffy white; flanks, abdomen, and thighs grayish ash, passing into violet-black on under tail-coverts; under surface of wings chestnut, fading into buff towards the least coverts, and into brown at the ends of the quills. ‘Iris dark brown; bill black, with the pale basal portion of lower mandible light gray; legs, feet, and claws slaty blue.’ (Darling.) Length, 406; culmen, 28; wing, 173; tail, 254; tarsus, 25.
“Adult female.—Similar in plumage to the male, but smaller. Length, 381; culmen, 30; wing, 155; tail, 229; tarsus, 25. Colonel Legge states that the female bird is larger than the male, but this is not borne out by the series in the [British] museum.
“Nestling.—Differs from the adult in having most of the feathers of the upper parts tipped with rufous, the collar being shaded with rufous; the tail-feathers broadly tipped with pale sandy buff; the throat buffy white like the chest, and the under tail-coverts rufous-buff. Length, 350; wing, 160.” (Shelley.)
“Apparently a stranger in the Philippines. A single specimen was obtained by Everett in Mindanao. We obtained one specimen in Siquijor, and another in Palawan. No other example was met with on our trip. The Palawan specimen, a female, measures, 375 in length; wing, 153; tail, 219; culmen, 30; tarsus, 30; middle toe with claw, 29. Iris dark brown; legs, feet, and nails slaty blue; bill black, pale at base of lower mandible.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Length, about 215 mm; plumage almost entirely black; tail nearly square, tips of the feathers turned outward giving the tail a forked appearance like that of a drongo (Dicrurus); outer pair of feathers much shorter than the rest.
Balabac (Everett); Palawan (Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White). Southern China, Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese provinces, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, Borneo.
Adult male.—Black; wings, upper and under tail-coverts, and tail glossed with dark green; head, neck, back, and under parts glossed with blue; a few hidden white feathers on occiput; a patch of white feathers on each thigh; under tail-coverts narrowly barred and tipped with white; a large white spot on inner web of first primary; a diagonal white bar across inner webs of inner primaries; outermost tail-feathers incompletely barred and tipped with white; outer webs of three or four outer tail-feathers narrowly edged with white near base. “Bill, legs, and claws black; gape and inside of mouth orange-red; iris brown.” (Shelley.) Length, 240; wing, 130; tail, 122; culmen from base, 24.
Adult female.—Similar to the male. Wing, 120; tail, 112; culmen from base, 21.
“Immature.—Slightly less glossy, of a more violet shade, and with clear white terminal spots to many of the feathers irregularly dispersed over the plumage; under wing-coverts irregularly barred with white, and the white bar across the quills broader than in the adult; the tail rather more barred with white, the white bars being much more distinct on the outer feathers, and the penultimate ones partially barred near their quills, and all the feathers with white spots at their tips.
“This species varies considerably in the shape of the tail which is sometimes very much forked, with the long feathers curved outwards towards their ends, but is sometimes square, the outer feather on each side being always short. The white of the nape is often absent, and the amount of the white spotting of the upper tail-coverts varies greatly. The most constant characters are the white spot and bar on the under surface of the quills, the bars on the under tail-coverts, and the bars on the outer tail-feathers, the latter varying in amount according to age. The immature bird, Cuculus albopunctatus Drap. has white spots which vary in number and size, the last to disappear with age being those at the ends of the tail-feathers. * * *.” (Shelley.)
“A single male from Palawan measures, 229 in length; wing, 119; tail, 120; culmen, 23; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 19.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Luzon (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Mindanao (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Mindoro (McGregor); Negros (Whitehead); Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Everett, Bourns & Worcester).
“Adult.—Very closely allied to S. lugubris; tail always square, with the exception of the outer pair of feathers, which are much shorter; it differs in having the head, back, throat, and breast velvety black, with absolutely no trace of white on any of the tail-coverts, and a distinct narrow white basal edging to the tail-feathers. ‘Iris dark chocolate-brown; bill and claws black; feet bluish gray.’ (Everett.) Length, 203; culmen, 23; wing, 119; tail, 109; tarsus, 14. The sexes are similar in plumage.” (Shelley.)
“Immature.—A young bird from Basilan, two-thirds grown, is light rusty brown in color, lightest on under surface; crown and nape show metallic blue-black feathers; one of the scapulars, many feathers of rump, and all of tail same color, mostly tipped with rusty brown; wing-coverts rusty brown with faint dark shaft-markings appearing; upper surface of wing black, faintly metallic, all the feathers edged with rusty brown; under surface of body uniform light brown; wing-coverts white strongly washed with brown at tips; white spot on inner webs of primaries appearing; under surface of tail dull metallic blue, each feather with several spots of white.
“A bird nearly grown shows numerous brown feathers on head and back. Primaries washed with rusty brown, primary-coverts uniform brown. Throat, chin, and upper breast nearly black. A third has general color of adult but some feathers of head, nape, primary-coverts, breast and abdomen as well as tips of some of the secondaries are washed with rusty brown.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
“Abundant in Basilan; not uncommon in Tawi Tawi and Sulu. Found in the forest, or in second growth. Five males average, 215 in length; wing, 116; tail, 110; culmen, 23; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 21. Five females, length, 212; wing, 115; tail, 106; culmen, 23; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 20. Bill and nails black; iris black to leaden; food insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Superficially this genus resembles Cuculus but differs by its comparatively shorter primaries and longer secondaries. In plumage and flight these cuckoos mimic the smaller Accipitrine hawks, and this probably protects them from the attacks of the larger hawks and owls.
Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Luzon (McGregor); Negros (Whitehead); Palawan (Platen). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese provinces, eastern Siberia, Japan, China, Borneo.
“Adult.—Above brown with a bronzy gloss, changing gradually into gray on the back of the neck and crown; the outer tail-coverts barred with white, and the longest ones often with darker ends and narrow pale edges; tail with about five distinct dark bars and narrow pale tips to the feathers, seldom much shaded with rufous; sides of the head and chin gray, with a broad white band from the front of the eye to the white on the throat, separating the gray of the head from the chin; upper throat white, changing on the lower throat and front of the chest into rufous, and the whole mottled with pale gray; remainder of the under parts white, with the breast down to the thighs broadly barred with dusky brown, and partially washed with rufous; under wing-coverts white, shaded with rufous; quills dusky brown with numerous white or buff partial bars on their inner webs. ‘Bill black, with the base of the lower mandible pale green; iris, eyelids, legs, and claws bright gamboge-yellow.’ (Davison.) Length, 394; culmen, 28; wing, 206; tail, 190; tarsus, 25.
“Immature.—Differs from the adult in the gray of the upper parts being confined to the crown, the back of the neck being mottled with rufous, the feathers of the back and wings more or less edged or barred with rufous. Under surface white washed with buff; chin generally darker, often black; throat and front of the chest broadly striped, the breast with broad short bars to the feathers.” (Shelley.)
“One adult female was obtained in the Island of Busuanga. Upper mandible black, lower greenish; eyelids yellow; eyes orange; legs, feet, and nails bright lemon-yellow. Length, 400; culmen, 32; wing, 223; tail, 211; tarsus, 33; middle toe with claw, 37.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Bourns & Worcester); Bohol (McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Luzon (Heriot); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp.); Mindoro (McGregor, Porter); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester). Sumatra, Java, Borneo.
Adult.—Above uniform slate-gray; end of tail bright rufous otherwise very similar to that of H. sparverioides; below white, with a variable amount of rufous on the breast; in some specimens the whole chest rufous, in others only the edges of the feathers rufous; chin gray; throat white slightly tinged with gray, and occasionally streaked with brown or rufous; no bars on breast thus distinguishing it from H. sparverioides. Length of male from Cagayancillo, 280; wing, 170; tail, 151; exposed culmen, 20; tarsus, 18. Length of female from Mindoro, 285; wing, 170; tail, 157; exposed culmen, 20; tarsus, 19.
“Immature.—Top of head gray; upper parts including wings, dark gray barred with rufous, tail barred as in the adult with light brown, blackish brown, and rufous, the rufous bars narrowest; under parts white with broad, pointed, mesial stripes of blackish; edges of feathers washed with rusty-brown; under tail-coverts white.
“Nestling.—Similar in plumage to the immature bird, with the back brown and the markings on the breast rather larger. Length, 208 mm.” (Shelley.)
“Rare and shy. Found skulking in thick bushes or under-brush, often near water. A male measures, 286 in length; wing, 167; tail, 153; culmen, 25; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 27. A female, length, 305; wing, 173; tail, 139; culmen, 25; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 28. Iris brown; legs, feet, and nails bright yellow. Bill with upper mandible olive-green at base, black at tip; lower mandible olive-green. Food beetles and other insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Secondaries about half the length of primaries; wing long and flat; tail shorter than wing; in adults the upper parts are nearly uniform brown or gray, chin and throat gray; abdomen white barred with black.
Negros (Whitehead). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Andaman Islands, Burmese Provinces, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Ternate, Ceylon, China, Japan.
“Adult.—Above dark brown, shading into slaty gray on the back of the neck and head; tail rather paler brown, with a broad subterminal black bar and a white tip, all the feathers having about five or six white spots on their quills, increasing in size toward the outer feathers, and most of them having white notches on their inner webs; throat gray, sometimes shaded with dusky on the sides of the crop; sides of the head and neck rather darker gray, more like the crown; remainder of the under parts buff or white, rather broadly barred with black, the under tail-coverts being less regularly marked and with fewer bars; under surface of the wings as in C. canorus. ‘Iris brown; bill horny, below lighter and tinted with yellow toward the base; gape and eyelids bright yellow; feet and legs duller yellow; two front claws horny, two hind ones yellow.’ (Bingham.) Length, 305; culmen, 25; wing, 20; tail, 160; tarsus, 20.
“Immature.—Above brown, darker on the head; the crown and neck thickly mottled with broad fulvous ends to the feathers; feathers on the back and wings broadly tipped with rufous or buff; tail very similar to that of the adult, but with the pale portion more rufous; beneath buff, barred with black, and mottled with gray on the throat in older specimens.” (Shelley.)
Basilan (McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Palawan (Platen); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester). Europe and northern Asia; in winter to Africa, Indian Peninsula, Malayan subregion to Australia.
“Adult male.—General color above leaden gray, slightly shaded with olive on the mantle and wings; quills dark brown, more or less notched with white on the inner webs; lateral upper tail-coverts narrowly edged and partially barred with white; tail slaty black, with white ends to all the feathers and with about seven double white spots along their shafts and white notches on their inner webs never forming bars across the feathers; sides of the head and neck, chin, and throat gray, slightly paler than the crown; remainder of the under parts white, shaded with buff on the abdomen and under tail-coverts, and very regularly barred with dusky black; axillars and under wing-coverts barred like the breast, with a portion near the bend of the wing and most of the greater series leaden gray; quills beneath dusky brown, with white bars on their inner webs, broadest and most strongly marked toward the base of the feathers. Bill black, yellowish at the base and edges; iris and legs yellow. Length, 356; culmen, 229; wing, 226; tail, 178; tarsus, 20.
“Adult female.—Differs only in plumage from the male in having the base of the throat shaded with rufous. Length, 320; culmen, 22; wing, 211; tail, 173; tarsus, 19.
“Nestling.—General plumage above dark brown, partially barred with rufous, with a narrow white terminal margin to each of the feathers, broadest on the wings and tail; crown and nape much mottled with white; sides of the head, chin, and throat blackish brown and white in broad bars of nearly even breadth; remainder of the under surface of the body white, with blackish brown bars not half the width of the intervening white spaces. Length, 170; wing, 127.
“Young nearly full-grown.—Above gray, passing into brownish black on the head, wings, and tail; crown and nape mottled with white feathers; feathers of the head, neck, wings, and tail strongly barred with rufous; remainder of the back much less distinctly barred, each feather being tipped with white next to a subterminal dark bar; tail with waved rufous bars passing into white near the shafts of the feathers and with white ends; general color of the under parts buffish white, with blackish brown bars, slightly broader on the chin and throat than on the breast. Length, 297; wing, 184.
“Hepatic phase.—General color of the upper parts cinnamon, barred on the head, mantle, and wings with dusky black; lower back and upper tail-coverts with a few black spots next to their shafts; outer tail-coverts with partial traces of dark bars; tail partially barred with black and marked with white near the shafts, the tips, and some of the edges of the feathers, and with a broad subterminal black band; under parts buffish white, rather darker on the throat, and all the feathers barred with dusky black. Length, 297; culmen, 22; wing, 216; tail, 170; tarsus, 19.” (Shelley.)
“We secured a single specimen in Siquijor in February, 1891; a second specimen was seen but not secured. The specimen in question, a male, measures, 311 in length; wing, 201; tail, 161; culmen, 27; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 26. Iris brownish yellow, with inner ring of dull brown; feet bright yellow; nails yellowish, except that of middle toe, which is black; upper mandible black, lower light yellowish.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Mindanao (Platen); Palawan (Platen). Eastern Siberia, Indian Peninsula, Andaman Islands, Malay Archipelago, Burmese provinces, northeastern Australia, Japan, China, New Guinea, New Britain.
“Adult male.—Very similar to C. canorus, but smaller, with the bill shorter and stouter. The plumage differs in the upper parts being of a deeper and more blue-gray, the breast and under tail-coverts more washed with buff, and the bars on the body black, broader and more sharply defined than in C. canorus. ‘Bill above blackish, below greenish; gape and mouth inside deep orange; eyelids bright yellow; iris stone-color; legs dull yellow; claws pale.’ (Cripps.) Length, 325; culmen, 23; wing, 188; tail, 160; tarsus, 18.
“Adult female.—Differs only in plumage from the male in having the base of the throat shaded with buffish rufous, as is the case in C. canorus. Length, 292; culmen, 18; wing, 188; tail, 152; tarsus, 18.
“Nestling.—General plumage above blackish brown, with narrow terminal white margins to the feathers, which margins are broadest on the wings and tail; the white nuchal patch so characteristic of C. canorus is indicated by three white feathers; a few rufous partial bars on the wings and tail; chin and throat blackish brown, the feathers of the latter with very narrow whitish terminal edges; remainder of the under surface of the body blackish brown and white in broad bars of even width. Length, 127; wing, 94.
“Young nearly full-grown.—Differs from C. canorus at this stage in being much blacker, in generally having no white feathers on the nape, and in the greater breadth of the black bars on the throat and breast, which are seldom narrower than the white space between them.
“Rufous phase.—Compared with the rufous phase of C. canorus, it is darker, the dark bars being broader and blacker; lower back and upper tail-coverts barred with black like the crown; tail with very distinct black bars forming angles at the shafts of the feathers; under surface of the body similarly colored, but much more broadly barred with black than in C. canorus. Length, 282; culmen, 22; wing, 178; tail, 155; tarsus, 18.” (Shelley.)
“This genus resembles Cacomantis in structure and size, the only structural distinctions being that the bill is much stouter and broader up to the tip, which is blunt when seen from above, and that the tail-feathers become narrower behind instead of remaining of the same breadth. The wing is shaped as in Cacomantis, the primaries only exceeding the secondaries by one-third the length.” (Blanford.)
Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese provinces, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Timor.
“Adult.—Above alternately barred with rufous and dusky bronze, with a slight olive gloss; forehead more or less spotted with white; a white patch on the carpal joint faintly barred with dusky; tail with rufous-shaded white ends; center feathers blackish, with a number of rufous notches on both webs; remaining feathers bright rufous, with a broad subterminal dark bar and a variable number of other bands; sides of the head and under parts white, evenly marked with narrow wavy bars of blackish brown, the lower breast and under tail-coverts slightly tinted with rufous; under wing-coverts pale rufous-buff, barred like the breast; under surface of the quills dark brown, with a large basal portion of their inner webs rufous-buff, more or less barred with dark brown. Bill black, with base of lower mandible gray; legs greenish gray. Length, 234; culmen, 19; wing, 122; tail, 122; tarsus, 18.
“Immature.—Above rufous; the upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts barred with olive-shaded black; a band of this color runs down the centers of some of the tail-feathers, and most of these feathers have bold black spots near their ends and occasionally white tips; sides of the head and sides of the neck rufous like the crown; remainder of the under parts white, with the blackish bars on the throat and chest broader than in the adult.” (Shelley.)
“An adult male from the Calamianes Islands measures, 216 in length; wing, 104; tail, 98; culmen, 24; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 21. Iris dark brown; legs and feet drab; upper mandible black, lower dark gray. Our Tablas specimens are immature, but there seems little room for doubt as to their identity.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Size small; wing short and pointed; third primary longest; primaries exceeding secondaries by one-third of length of wing; tail strongly graduated, longer than wing. In this genus the young have a barred plumage which disappears in the adult; Penthoceryx has no change of pattern but retains the barred livery in the adult state.
Ma-sa-kit′, Manila.
Balabac (Everett); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Caluya (Porter); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Cuming, Gevers, Everett, Heriot, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow); Mindoro (McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Palawan (Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Sonnerat, Steere, Steere Exp.); Samar (Steere Exp.); Semirara (Porter); Sibay (Porter); Siquijor (Celestino); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester, Everett); Ticao (McGregor). Malay Peninsula, Burmese Provinces, eastern Himalayas, northeastern Bengal, central India, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Ternate.
“Adult male.—Upper half of the head and back of the neck leaden gray, passing gradually into brown, with an olive gloss on the back and wings; feathers of the pinion-joint white, forming a patch; upper tail-coverts gray like the crown; tail slaty black with white ends, the outer webs of the feathers notched with white, the inner webs regularly barred with white, most strongly so on the outer feathers; sides of the head, chin, throat, and front of chest uniform gray, slightly paler than the crown; remainder of the body and under tail-coverts and the under wing-coverts uniform rufous-buff; under surface of the quills dusky brown, with a diagonal bar of white formed by the white on the inner webs near the base of the quills. ‘Bill black, base of lower mandible reddish. Iris light red; feet and legs waxy naples-yellow, nails black.’ (Everett.) Length, 208; culmen, 16; wing, 109; tail, 109; tarsus, 16.
“Immature.—Above rufous, nearly equally barred throughout with olive, shaded black; primaries alone more uniform brown; under parts buff, narrowly barred throughout with dusky black; under wing-coverts like the chest; pale portion of the quills more rufous than in the adult and indicating partial bars. ‘Bill dusky black, yellowish at the gape and base of lower mandible; iris yellowish white, legs and feet dingy grayish yellow.’ (Hume.) Length, 231; culmen, 18; wing, 109; tail, 127; tarsus, 18.” (Shelley.)
Nestling.—Upper parts including wings and tail dark brown, the feathers barred and edged with cinnamon-rufous; tip of tail and edge of wing white; below white, barred, more regularly than above, with blackish brown.
“Very common. It is quite a sweet singer. Legs and feet dirty yellow; nails black; upper mandible black, lower light brown. Four males measure, 241 in length; wing, 118; tail, 132; culmen, 21; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 21.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Length, about 165 mm.; tail short and rounded; wings long and pointed, when folded reaching nearly to tip of tail; plumage metallic bronze or violet; breast, abdomen, and sides barred with white.
Basilan (McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Luzon (Lindsay); Mindoro (Steere Exp., McGregor, Porter); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Whitehead). Nicobars, Andamans, Malay Peninsula, Indo-Chinese Provinces, Assam, Java, Sumatra, Borneo.
Male.—Entire head, neck, wings, tail, chin, throat, and fore breast beautiful metallic violet; three outer pairs of rectrices tipped with white; outermost pair with three white spots on outer webs; under parts, wing-lining, and axillars white, barred with metallic green. A male from Mindoro had inner ring of iris dark red, outer ring yellow; eyelids scarlet; bill bright yellow, its basal third orange-red; legs and nails black. Length, 165; wing, 103; tail, 68; culmen from base, 19. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 91; tail, 65; culmen from base, 17.
“Adult female.—Above coppery bronze shaded with green, and with somewhat obscure rufous edges to most of the feathers of the wing; sides of the head and eyebrows white, barred with black; forehead partially mottled with these colors; remainder of the crown and back of the neck nearly uniform dark brown; center pair of tail-feathers nearly uniform fiery bronze, passing into green toward their ends; remainder of the feathers rufous, barred with black, and the outer web and tip of the exterior pair blotched with white; under parts, including the under wing-coverts, white, regularly barred with bronzy brown, passing into black on the under tail-coverts; under surface of the quills brown, with broad inner margins of buff, passing into white near the base of the feathers. Length, 168; culmen, 16; wing, 99; tail, 71; tarsus, 14.
“Young.—Above rufous; back of the neck, back, and wing-coverts barred with metallic green; quills greenish brown, edged with rufous; two center tail-feathers metallic green, tipped with rufous, remainder rufous, barred with black and tipped with white and with some white bars on the outer feathers; beneath white, barred with bronze. Bill yellowish brown. Length, 142. Males on first assuming the metallic plumage are irregularly blotched with both metallic green and violet.” (Shelley.)
“A very rare bird. Iris red; legs and feet dark olive; nails black; bill orange-yellow, red at base; eye-wattles red. Food, in one case, caterpillars. A male measures, 203 in length; wing, 96; tail, 66; culmen, 18; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 19.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
It is not improbable that Vigors’s name will have to be used for the violet cuckoo inhabiting the Philippine Islands, outside the Palawan group; at the present time, however, sufficient material to warrant the separation is not available.
Basilan (McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Mindanao (Everett, Celestino); Negros (Steere); Tawi Tawi (Everett). Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Timor, Flores, Celebes, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, northern Australia.
Adult female.—Above including wing and tail dark metallic bronze-green, mixed with dark purple, the latter color more pronounced on head and neck; some small white spots on lores and above and below eyes; below white, barred with coppery bronze; throat, fore breast, and sides of neck heavily washed with rich rusty brown which nearly obliterates the white and bronze bars; under wing-coverts and axillars barred with white and bronze; under surface of wing ashy brown; on inner web near the base of each quill a white patch, followed by a larger rufous patch forming a diagonal double band; rectrices rufous, outermost pair barred with black and white and with white tips; next two pairs barred with black and with white tips; fourth pair ashy brown, barred with rufous on outer webs and with tips subterminally blackish; middle pair ashy brown with obsolete subterminal bars. Iris red; bill black, dark red at base; feet dark green. Length, 160; wing, 99; tail, 66; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 12. The specimen described above was taken in Basilan. Male similar?
“Bill blackish; iris burnt sienna color; orbital ring fine vermilion; feet very dark lead-gray.” (Everett.)
Adult male entirely black; adult female conspicuously barred and spotted; feet stout; tail long, its feathers broad and rounded at their tips.
Palawan (Platen, Steere Exp.). Malay and Indian Peninsulas, Burmese Provinces, Andaman Islands, Ceylon, China, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Flores.
“Adult male.—Entire plumage black, very strongly glossed with bluish green. ‘Iris crimson; bill pale bluish green, dusky round the nostrils; legs and feet leaden blue.’ (Legge.) Length, 386; culmen, 30; wing, 193; tail, 200; tarsus, 30.
“Adult female.—Above blackish brown, with an olive gloss; crown, sides of the head, and back of the neck very strongly mottled with broad white shaft-stripes, which are generally shaded toward the forehead with rufous; back and wing-coverts spotted with white; quills, upper tail-coverts, and tail barred with white; beneath white, feathers of the throat with broad black sides, remainder of the under surface of the body and the under wing-coverts with rather broad black angular bars; under surface of the quills brown, partially barred with white. ‘Iris crimson; legs and feet plumbeous; bill greenish gray, gape pinkish flesh-color.’ (Butler.) Length, 406; culmen, 30; wing, 190; tail, 198; tarsus, 33.
“Nestling.—Entirely greenish black like the adult male.
“The scarcely full-grown birds have more or less marking on the tail-feathers and the under surface of the quills, and have numerous fulvous spots on the body-feathers. In more than one specimen the breast and abdomen are thickly mottled with buff markings.
“There seems to me to be no absolute uniformity in the color of the young birds, and some are much more spotted than others. If Mr. Whitehead’s surmise is correct, that the young female is also black like the male, then it is possible that the less spotted nestlings are males, which remain almost uniform till they take on the adult plumage after their first molt, while the feathers are even more mottled, foreshadowing the spotted dress which they are about to assume. The plumage of the adult female also varies, and very old birds appear to me to grow hoary, while the yellowish or reddish tinge on the head and throat may be considered as sure signs of youth.” (Shelley.)
“Whitehead insists, Ibis (1890), 46, that the Palawan species is E. mindanensis, and not E. malayana (honorata). Blasius, however, seems to think that he found both species among Dr. Platen’s birds. Steere identified the specimens secured by us in 1897 as E. malayana. We secured no additional material on our present trip.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Ba-haó, Ticao; cu-aó, Masbate; pa-haó, Cagayancillo; bau-baó, Cuyo; cu-aoó, Calayan.
Apo (Celestino); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Cuyo (McGregor); Fuga (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer); Leyte (Whitehead); Luzon (Everett, Whitehead); Malanipa (Murray); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere, Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Palawan (Platen, Whitehead, Steere Exp.); Panay (Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Steere Exp.); Semirara (McGregor & Worcester); Sibutu (Everett); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor). Sangi Islands.
“Adult male.—Similar in plumage to E. honorata. ‘Bill grayish green; legs dark lead-gray; claws black; iris crimson.’ (Everett.) Length, 373; culmen, 30; wing, 188; tail, 193; tarsus, 33.
“Adult female.—Similar in plumage to E. honorata but with the entire upper half of the head rufous, streaked or mottled with black; bars on the chest, abdomen, and under tail-coverts slightly narrower. ‘Bill pale green, deep orange at base; legs yellow, tinged green on the tarsus; nails gray; iris chrome-yellow.’ (Everett.) Length, 368; culmen, 32; wing, 19; tail, 19; tarsus, 33.” (Shelley.)
“A very common bird throughout the islands, especially abundant in mangrove swamps and in second growth. Called ‘bahów’ by the natives from its note. Frequently heard crying at dead of night. Five males average, 386 in length; wing, 189; tail, 185; culmen, 28; tarsus, 32; middle toe with claw, 46. Two females, length, 362; wing, 183; tail, 176; culmen, 28; tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw, 37. Eyes red; legs and feet leaden gray to nearly black; bill pale greenish. Food usually insects, but in one case fruit.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Calayan (McGregor); Fuga (Whitehead, McGregor).
Male.—Entire plumage glossy blue-black. Bill dusky greenish; iris crimson; legs and feet dark steel-blue; nails brown. Length, 490; wing, 241; tail, 237; exposed culmen, 31; bill from nostril, 22.
Female.—Above dark brown with a faint purple gloss on wing-coverts and scapulars; feathers of crown, neck, and sides of face with rufous shaft-stripes; back, rump, and wings with small tawny-rufous spots, quills and tail barred with same color; lower parts buff (inclining to white on middle of breast) barred with black; a more or less distinct white band from base of bill to below posterior edge of ear-coverts, wider posteriorly; below this a wide band of dark rufous mixed with black; ear-coverts similar; chin and throat striped with black and tawny-buff. Bill dusky greenish; iris crimson; legs and feet steel-blue; nails brown. Length, 490; wing, 240; tail, 227; exposed culmen, 31; bill from nostril, 22.
Bill powerful, strongly curved; legs and feet strong, tarsus naked; claw of hind toe very long and slender, nearly straight; wings short, rounded, and curved to the body, primaries but little longer than secondaries; tail very long, its feathers wide and soft; feathers of head, neck, and throat coarse and decomposed, their shafts strong and polished.
Mindoro (Steere Exp., Everett, Platen, Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Porter); Semirara (Worcester).
Adult (sexes similar).—Entire plumage black, heavily glossed with oil-green; most of the feathers with glossy black shafts; in some specimens the alula and primary-coverts edged with rufous. Iris dark red; bill, legs, and nails black. Length of a male, 460; wing, 155; tail, 270; culmen from base, 29; depth of bill at front of nostril, 13.
Young.—A young male taken May 11 is blackish brown; head and neck glossed with green; chin, throat, and breast mottled with gray; wings faintly glossed with green; primaries and secondaries slightly tipped with dull rufous; alula and all upper wing-coverts barred with dull rufous; tail black strongly glossed with green. Wing, 160; tail, 180; culmen from base, 29.
Grant gives the following description of an immature male:
“The immature feathers in the upper parts are dull brownish black, devoid of any gloss; the immature tail- and flight-feathers are similarly colored, but slightly glossed, and the latter are indistinctly barred with pale rufous on both webs. The throat, breast, and belly are brownish black, indistinctly marked with buff; the rest of the plumage is similar to that of the adult.”
“Frequents bushes in open fields like C. viridis. Very common in Mindoro. Four males average, 445 in length; wing, 167; tail, 268; culmen, 37; tarsus, 35; middle toe with claw, 40. A female measures, 476 in length; wing, 176; tail, 279; culmen, 32; tarsus, 42; middle toe with claw, 42. Iris red; bill, legs, and feet black. Food insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
The Mindoro coucal builds a bulky globular nest of grass, with an entrance on one side. A nest found in April was situated in a thick bed of giant grass. The two eggs are dull white and covered with a thin layer of a white, chalky substance; their measurements are 27.4 by 21.8 and 24.3 by 21.
Batan (Mearns, McGregor).
Adult.—Similar to Centropus mindorensis (Steere), but slightly larger. Mearns gives the following measurements:
“Centropus carpenteri: Adult male type: Length, 440; wing, 166; tail, 278; chord of culmen, 32; depth of bill, 16; tarsus, 42; middle toe with claw, 44.
“Centropus mindorensis: Average of three males: Length, 398; wing, 153; tail, 238; chord of culmen, 29.2; depth of bill, 13.7; tarsus, 40; middle toe with claw, 42.”
Young.—A young bird taken June 4 is black; upper parts including wings and tail lightly glossed with green; chin and throat slightly mottled with gray; tips of primaries and secondaries slightly rufous; alula and all upper wing-coverts barred with rufous. Wing, 140; tail, 112; culmen from base, 26.
Mindoro (Platen, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor).
“Sexes alike.—Forehead, crown and nape, sides of face, chin, throat, and upper breast greenish black; the coarse shafts of the feathers shiny black, the webs with a faint greenish tinge; hind neck and back, sides of neck, wing-coverts, and breast smoky brown with faint greenish tinge; hind back and rump slaty black, tips of feathers with greenish tinge; upper tail-coverts and upper surface of tail uniform dull metallic green; shafts of feathers jet-black from base to tip; upper surface of wings earthy brown with metallic green gloss like the tail, except on the four outer primaries, which have little gloss; abdomen browner than breast and with less metallic wash; flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts like rump; under surface of tail black with faint metallic blue gloss; under wing-coverts and axillars like breast; under surface of wing uniform blackish brown. Seven males measure as follows: Length, 424; wing, 150; tail, 216; culmen, 40; tarsus, 42. A female measures, 495 in length; wing, 158; tail, 233; culmen, 44; tarsus, 43.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
Steere’s coucal is somewhat like the Mindoro coucal but its breast and neck are smoky brown while the entire plumage of the Mindoro coucal is black glossed with green. The two species are fairly abundant in Mindoro and inhabit thick grass patches and jungle.
Balabac (Everett); Cagayan Sulu (McGregor); Luzon (Cuming); Palawan (Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Bourns & Worcester, White); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Everett). Malay Peninsula, Burmese countries, Ceylon, China, India, Java, Sumatra, Borneo.
“Adult male.—General plumage black, with the wings and upper back chestnut; head, neck, and chest glossed with purplish blue; remainder of the body, lower back, upper tail-coverts, and tail glossed with purplish green; primaries with brown ends; inner secondaries slightly tinted with brown; under wing-coverts glossy black. ‘Bill and legs black; iris crimson.’ (Davison.) Length, 559; culmen, 42; wing, 223; tail, 312; tarsus, 58.
“Adult female.—Similar in plumage to the male. Length, 521; culmen, 46; wing, 211; tail, 284; tarsus, 56.
“Immature.—Plumage duller than in the adult and generally of a greener shade; sides of head and front of neck with buffy white spots, increasing into bars on the body; mantle, some of the wing-coverts, and the innermost secondaries barred with black; upper tail-coverts narrowly barred with buff; tail glossy greenish black, with no blue shade.” (Shelley.)
“Rare in Palawan; common in Sulu. Iris red; legs, feet, and nails black; bill black; food insects. Two males measure, 555 in length; wing, 198; tail, 312; culmen, 41; tarsus, 53; middle toe with claw, 50. Two females, length, 475; wing, 178; tail, 245; culmen, 37; tarsus, 44; middle toe with claw, 45.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Suc-suc, Lubang; sa-guc′-soc, Ticao; si-ga-cok′, Calayan; sa-ba-cot′, Manila.
Bantayan (McGregor); Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat (Mearns); Fuga (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp.); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow); Mindoro (Schmacker); Negros (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Keay); Panay (Sonnerat, Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Siasi (Guillemard); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult.—Sexes similar; wings bright chestnut, tips of primaries and secondaries blackish brown; wing-lining glossed with green; remainder of plumage black, glossed with dark green and traces of blue. Iris red; bill and nails black; legs dark steel-blue. Length of a male from Manila, 380; wing, 155; tail, 250; culmen from base, 26; tarsus, 42. Length of a female from Cagayancillo, 480; wing, 190; tail, 290; culmen from base, 33; tarsus, 40.
Immature birds differ from the adult in having the head and body brown, more or less mixed with light buff; wings chestnut, barred with blackish brown; feathers of head, neck, throat, and breast with pale buff shafts; the tail, even in very small young birds, is glossy green like that of the adult.
“Commonest of Philippine cuckoos. Found in the brush and high grass in open country; breeds in February and March. Eyes dark cherry-red; legs and feet slaty black; nails black; bill black.
“Five males from Cebu measure, 395 in length; wing, 152; tail, 239; culmen, 30; tarsus, 40; middle toe with claw, 38. A male from Masbate measures, 419 in length; wing, 17; tail, 202; culmen, 27; tarsus, 37; middle toe with claw, 41. Two females from Masbate measure, 457 in length; wing, 171; tail, 247; culmen, 31; tarsus, 41; middle toe with claw, 43. It will be noted that the variations in size are very considerable.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tu-la-cuc′, Batan.
Bantayan (McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett); Luzon (Whitehead); Mindanao (Bourns & Worcester); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere Exp., Keay); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Steere Exp.); Semirara (Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). China, Assam, Burma, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes.
Adult.—General color including tail black, glossed with dark oil-green; shafts of the feathers strong and glossy black; wings light chestnut or reddish buff; coverts and inner secondaries more or less mottled or streaked with blackish brown, the coverts with pale shaft-stripes; tail tipped with pale buff. Iris brown; bill blackish; legs and feet lead-blue; nails blackish. Length, 375 to 400; a male from Mindoro measures, wing, 162; tail, 225; culmen from base, 29; bill from nostril, 18; tarsus, 45; middle toe with claw, 44. A female from Bohol: Wing, 160; tail, 210; culmen from base, 26; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 39.
Young.—Upper parts seal-brown, somewhat mixed with rusty buff; shafts of feathers on sides of head, neck, and mantle pale buff; back blackish brown, mottled with rusty buff; upper tail-coverts greatly lengthened, two of the feathers being fully two-thirds the length of the rectrices, in color black glossed with green and crossed by numerous bars of rusty buff.
The young plumage here described is usually considered to be put on each winter even by birds that have attained the black adult plumage. It is usually referred to as the “seasonal” or “non-breeding plumage.” Blanford, however, under the closely related Centropus bengalensis says: “The second garb is called the winter or seasonal plumage by most authors, but I can find no evidence that it is ever assumed by birds that have once attained adult coloration, and there are several winter birds in the British Museum collection with the adult dress. The long upper tail-coverts appear peculiar to the immature plumage.” Fauna British India, Birds (1895), 3, 243.
“We record this species from Leyte and Bohol on the strength of British Museum specimens stated in the Catalogue of Birds to have been collected in these islands, though no mention seems to have been made of them in the Marquis of Tweeddale’s report on Mr. Everett’s collections.
“Quite common in Sulu and Tawi Tawi; not rare in the other islands indicated. Lives in the grass in open fields. Iris very dark brown; legs and feet blue-black; bill black. Food insects. Three males average, 345 in length; wing, 139; tail, 180; culmen, 24; tarsus, 36; middle toe with claw, 37. Five females, length, 368; wing, 159; tail, 199; culmen, 31; tarsus, 39; middle, toe with claw, 39.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Whitehead); Mindanao (Peale, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Nipa (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Whitehead).
Adult (sexes similar).—Head, neck, mantle, and lower parts to middle of breast buff, lighter on crown and chin; forehead, lores, cheeks, and eyebrow black forming a mask; wings and scapulars bright chestnut; tips of primaries dark brown; remainder of back, tail, and under parts black, glossed with bluish green; under wing-coverts blackish. Iris red; bill, legs, and claws black. Length of a male from Basilan, 406; wing, 165; tail, 230; culmen from base, 38; tarsus, 40. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 170; tail, 235; culmen from base, 40; tarsus, 43.
“Frequents thick tangles of vines in deep woods. Very common in Mindanao. Much rarer in Samar.
“Four males measure, 412 in length; wing, 149; tail, 209; culmen, 35; tarsus, 38; middle toe with claw, 41. Four females, length, 441; wing, 155: tail, 236; culmen, 36; tarsus, 41; middle toe with claw, 42.
“The above specimens are from Mindanao. Birds from Samar average slightly larger. Eyes dull red; legs and feet blue-black to black; bill and nails black.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Luzon (Heriot, Whitehead, Celestino).
“Adult.—Entire plumage deep rufous, slightly darker above than below; the feathers from the forehead to the mantle have darker glossy shafts than those of the throat and fore part of the chest; the quills with broad brown ends. Bill green, passing into yellow toward the tip and on the edges; legs olive-brown. Length, 400; culmen, 38; wing, 160; tail, 229; tarsus, 43.” (Shelley.)
A female from Bataan Province, Luzon, measures: Wing, 160; tail, 250; culmen from base, 35; tarsus, 40; middle toe with claw, 44.
Nostril round in a long vertical groove at base of bill; on side of head from bill to above posterior border of ear, a wide unfeathered space covered with minute fleshy protuberances; wing short; tail long, its feathers wide and greatly graduated.
Balabac (Steere, Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Palawan (Everett, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White).
Adult (sexes similar).—Forehead, jaw, and narrow lines above and below eye, gray; crown and occiput olive-brown, faintly glossed with green; back, rump, and basal two-thirds of tail glossy metallic green; distal half of tail dark chestnut; chin, throat, breast, sides of neck, and incomplete collar bright rufous, shaded into chestnut on abdomen, thighs, and crissum. Length of a male from Palawan, 450; wing, 170; tail, 270; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 38. Wing of a female, 170; tail, 278; culmen from base, 39; tarsus, 39.
“In limiting the range of this species to Palawan, Shelley seems to have overlooked the fact that it was originally discovered in Balabac by Steere. We found it to be quite abundant in the Calamianes Islands, and secured numerous specimens there. Usually found in deep forest, occasionally in second growth. Iris of female yellow; iris of male with outer nearly white ring, and inner ring of deep red or brown; bill pea-green; legs and feet leaden gray; nails black; bare skin round eye maroon.
“Five males from Palawan measure, 461 in length; wing, 164; tail, 262; culmen, 40; tarsus, 46; middle toe with claw, 35. Three females, length, 472; wing, 164; tail, 268; culmen, 38; tarsus, 39; middle toe with claw, 36. Calamianes birds are indistinguishable.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Nostril hidden by stiff antrorse feathers; eye surrounded by a large area of bare skin; on each side of crown, from lores to nape, a line of harsh, decomposed, and lengthened feathers; wing short; tail long and graduated.
Bá-sac ba-yú-cu, Manila.
Catanduanes (Whitehead); Luzon (Cuming, Meyer, Möllendorff, Steere, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor, Celestino); Marinduque (Steere Exp.).
“Adult male.—General plumage above glossy blackish green, with a partial blue shade; a very distinct eyebrow of bright crimson elongated tufts of hair-like feathers extending from the nostrils to behind the bare orbital patch, which latter is bright orange; the base of many of the red tufts white and forming a narrow partial eyebrow next to the bare skin; tail with broad white ends to the feathers; under parts dusky olive, inclining to black toward the chin, thighs, and under tail-coverts, the latter partially glossed with green. ‘Iris pure chrome-yellow; orbital skin and base of bill fiery orange; bill pale green; legs greenish chrome; claws dark gray.’ (Everett.) Length, 394; culmen, 38; wing, 157; tail, 241; tarsus, 38.
“Adult female.—Similar in plumage to the male. Length, 389; culmen, 38; wing, 155; tail, 231; tarsus, 37.” (Shelley.)
A male from Bataan Province, Luzon, measures: Wing, 160; tail, 240; culmen from base, 36; bill from nostril, 27; tarsus, 35; middle toe with claw, 33.
Nostrils partly hidden; a large, oblong, bare space surrounding the eye; feathers of entire top of head and of chin and throat with hard, glossy scale-like tips; wings short and rounded; tail long and graduated.
Al-bi-ló-ri-o, Manila.
Luzon (Cuming, Meyer, Everett, Möllendorff, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor, Celestino); Marinduque (Steere Exp.).
“Adult (type of species).—Upper half and sides of the head gray, passing into white on the sides of the forehead and throat; all feathers of the forehead and a broad central band through the crown to the nape, ornamented with glossy, black, horny appendages, and having the subterminal portion of each feather white; a broad band of similarly horn-tipped feathers extending down the center of the throat; back of the neck deep chestnut; remainder of the upper parts deep glossy green, inclining to purplish blue on the quills and tail; the feathers of the latter with white ends; at the base of the neck a broad golden rufous semicircle bordering the white throat and blending into the deep chestnut of the sides of the neck and chest; abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts brownish black, washed with a dark green gloss on the outside of the thigh-coverts; under wing-coverts deep chestnut like the breast; quills uniform glossy black; eyelashes strong and black. ‘Orbital patch and iris red; bill horn-yellow; legs gray.’ (Everett.) Length, 432; culmen, 38; wing, 155; tail, 229; tarsus, 41.
“Nestling.—Upper half and sides of the head, wings, and body, both above and below, dark reddish brown; the quills and base of the tail glossy greenish black, with which color other portions of the wings are mottled; a broad white end to the tail; neck all round rufous, passing into rufous-gray on the chin.” (Shelley.)
A male from Bataan Province, Luzon, measures: Wing, 158; tail, 230; culmen from base, 37; bill from nostril, 27; tarsus, 41; middle toe with claw, 39.