Bill slender, short or moderately long; upper mandible with a small notch; culmen slightly curved near the tip; nostrils exposed; rictal bristles usually inconspicuous; wing rounded and curved to the body, tertials much shorter than secondaries; tarsus slender, longer than bill from gape; tail rounded, wedge-shaped, or graduate. Nearly all the members of this family are plainly colored and the sexes closely resemble each other. The young birds are unspotted; they either resemble the adults, or else they are more highly colored. Some of the genera of flycatchers are very similar to certain genera which are here placed in the Sylviidæ.
Characteristic species of the Turdidæ, Muscicapidæ, and Sylviidæ are easily recognized and distinguished, but the three families intergrade through intermediate genera so that even the highest authorities on classification are by no means agreed as to the respective limits of these three families.
Bill small and slender; rictal bristles minute; wing flat and pointed, somewhat longer than tail; first primary narrow and pointed, less than primary-coverts; second primary nearly as long as third which is longest; rectrices graduated and slightly pointed, the outermost feather nearly as short as, or shorter than, under tail-coverts; tarsus and toes well developed, reaching nearly to tip of tail. Plumage obscure, spotted in the smallest species.
Batan (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Whitehead, Celestino); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindoro (Porter); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Talaut, Sangir, and Molucca Islands, eastern Siberia, China, and Japan; in winter to Batchian, Halmahera, and Morotai.
Male (Batan Island, May).—Above dark russet-brown; wings and tail seal-brown, edged with russet-brown; second primary edged with gray; a distinct line over lores, eye, and ear-coverts ashy gray; lores and upper ear-coverts dusky; chin and fore throat white, becoming ashy or drab-gray on cheeks, ear-coverts, sides of throat, and breast; breast ashy gray, becoming white on middle of abdomen; sides, flanks, and thighs light olive-brown; crissum yellowish olive-brown. Wing, 76; tail, 68; outermost rectrix, 45; culmen from base, 20; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 24.
In winter the upper parts, especially the head, are lighter; the superciliary stripe, cheeks, and under parts are washed with buff and the gray is entirely obscured. The male and female are very similar if not identical in colors. A female from Calayan in fresh winter-plumage measures: Wing, 72; tail, 66; culmen from base, 19; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 26. A female in somewhat worn plumage, wing, 72; tail, 68; culmen from base, 19; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 25.
Basilan (McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Goodfellow); Mindoro (Whitehead); Romblon (McGregor). Kurile Islands, northeastern Siberia, Greater Sunda Islands, Kamtchatka, Japan; Borneo in winter.
Adult.—Above russet-brown; feathers of head and back with darker centers; lores and a line over eye to nape ashy; cheeks and ear-coverts brown with a buff wash; jaws white; loral and malar feathers with shafts extending beyond the webs, the produced portions black; sides of the neck brown; under parts white; sides, flanks, thighs, and crissum buffy brown; a faint buff wash across fore breast; wings and tail similar to the back, the latter with obsolete, narrow bars on upper surface; rectrices dark gray below, each with a dark bar just anterior to the whitish tip. Upper mandible dusky, lower mandible light flesh-color, dusky at tip; legs and nails pale flesh-color. Length, about 165; male, wing, 74; tail, 60; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 23. Female, wing, 65; tail, 54; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 21.
Young.—In young birds the sides of the head and the entire under parts are strongly suffused with yellowish buff.
Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (Heriot, McGregor). Russia, Siberia, and central Asia; in winter to China, Andaman Islands, Indian Peninsula, and Burmese provinces.
Adult (sexes similar).—Above olivaceous russet-brown, each feather with a wide seal-brown shaft-streak; primaries and secondaries seal-brown edged with russet-brown, second primary edged with whitish; secondary-coverts similar to back; tail nearly uniform brown; sides of head and ear-coverts brown; a yellowish buff line above, and another below, eye; cheek and jaw buff, traversed by a narrow blackish brown line; under parts whitish, washed with buff on fore breast, sides, flanks, and crissum; feathers of these parts more or less marked with blackish brown shaft-lines. Bill dusky above, flesh-color below; legs and nails pale yellowish flesh-color. Length, 120 to 125. A male from Calayan measures: Wing, 57; tail, 45; culmen from base, 12; bill from nostril, 7; tarsus, 17. A female, wing, 53; tail, 43; culmen from base, 11; bill from nostril, 7; tarsus, 19.
“The streaks on the lower surface become reduced in aged birds. The bird least marked in my series has a few streaks only on the middle of the breast and on the flanks, with one or two faint marks on the under tail-coverts. In this state it is very like the Indian L. straminea. The majority of the birds are densely streaked from the chin to the tail-coverts, except on the abdomen; and all these are characterized by a richer tone of coloring beneath. The tail-coverts vary in the most extraordinary manner. In many of the birds they are entirely unmarked; in others densely streaked, and this apparently quite independently of the amount of streaking on the other parts of the lower plumage.” (Oates.)
Bill comparatively long and stout; from three to five large rictal bristles on each side of bill; wing long, flat, and pointed; first primary minute, narrow, and pointed; third primary longest, second a little shorter; tail decidedly rounded; tarsus and feet well developed.
Calamodyta sorghophila Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863), 92 and 293.
Acrocephalus sorgophilus Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1881), 5, 94; Sharpe, Hand-List (1903), 4, 187; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 87.
Luzon (McGregor). China.
Male.—Above tawny olive, uniform and more ocherous on rump and tail-coverts; head and back distinctly streaked with dark brown; lores, sides of head, and a line above each eye yellow-buff; on each side of crown a long blackish stripe bordering the superciliary line below; a dark line on upper border of ear-coverts; under parts pale buff, flanks and thighs darker; wings and tail brown and much worn. Rectrices twelve; iris dark brown. Wing, 55; tail, 49; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 18; hind toe with claw, 14. Bill comparatively broad and flat.
The specimen described above was killed in a bed of reeds on the border of Laguna de Bay, January 19, 1902. The only other specimen known was taken near Amoy, China, in May, 1861. The original description follows:
Type.—“Upper mandible of bill blackish brown, edge of upper and whole of lower yellow-ocher; rictus and inside of mouth yellow; iris ocherous brown; legs and toes plumbeous, with paler soles; upper parts ocherous olive, with a few rather faint streaks of blackish brown; eyebrow and cheeks ocherous, more buff-colored on the lores; over the eyebrow a black streak marks each side of the head; under parts yellowish buff, much paler on the throat, under neck, and center of belly; wing-coverts and tertiaries deep hair-brown, margined with ocherous olive; quills hair-brown edged with light chestnut-brown; tail pale hair-brown margined with reddish olive which color also tinges the rump; inner edges of the under wing edged with very pale rusty ocher. Length, 116.8; wing, 56.6; tail, 47.7; tarsi, 17.7; bill along culmen, 10.6.
“First quill very small, narrow, and pointed, about 8.6 mm. long; second quill 7 mm. shorter than the third and fourth, which are equal and longest, the fifth quill 3.8 mm. shorter than the third and fourth; the sixth 5.5 mm. shorter than the fifth. Tail much graduated, the rectrices being narrowed at their tips; tarsi thick; toes and claws strong, the hind toe and claw especially so.” (Swinhoe.)
Batan (McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Cebu (Meyer, Steere Exp., McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Whitehead, McGregor); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Goodfellow); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Palawan (Platen). Japan, northern China, and eastern Siberia; in winter to Burmese provinces and the Malay Archipelago.
Adult male and female.—Above nearly uniform olive-brown; feathers of back, tail-coverts, and wing-coverts somewhat fringed with ocherous buff; primaries, secondaries, and rectrices dark brown, edged with olive-brown; second primary with a whitish outer web; below white, washed with buff; chin and throat nearly pure white; breast pale buff; sides, flanks, thighs, and crissum considerably darker; lores and spot behind eye brown; eyelids pale buff; a line from nostril over lores and eye to occiput pale buff; feathers of lores and jaws with produced black shaft-tips. The obscure dusky streak on throat and the pale tips to the rectrices, frequently seen in Philippine specimens, are said to be characteristic of birds of the year. Length, about 190. A male in fresh plumage from Calayan measures: Wing, 85; tail, 77; culmen from base, 19; bill from nostril, 13; tarsus, 26. A female from Calayan, wing, 80; tail, 68; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 13; tarsus, 24.
This species is resident in Bohol and specimens from that island are smaller than those taken in Calayan and in Luzon during migration.
“Bill to gape equal to head or less, straight, cylindric, compressed; at base higher than broad, and having the ridge raised and keeled between the oval apert nares; tip of upper mandible scarcely inclined but distinctly notched; rictus smooth; wings short and feeble but not much or equally gradated; first two quills conspicuously gradated, three next subequal and longest; tail more or less elongated and gradated throughout, rather cuneate than fan-shaped and somewhat rigid or worn; tarsi stout, smooth, longer than the mid toe and nail; toes and nails simple, compressed, inner fore with its nail exceeding the outer fore, central elongate, hind least; nails acute.” (Hodgson.)
Luzon (Whitehead).
“Seebohm’s grass warbler belongs to the section of the genus Lusciniola in which the first primary is half or more than half the length of the second, the sides of the head and ear-coverts brown, the throat pure white and devoid of spots, and the tail considerably longer than the wing.
“Clearly the nearest allies to this species are L. luteiventris and L. mandellii. In these three species the wing-formula is as follows:
“L. luteiventris. Fourth quill slightly longer than, rarely subequal to, the fifth; third intermediate between fifth and sixth.
“L. mandellii, L. seebohmi. Fifth somewhat longer than the fourth and sixth, which are subequal, and distinctly longer than the third.
“The present species differs from both its allies in having the general color of the upper parts browner, the white on the chin and throat more extensive and shading into grayish on the sides of the neck; while the sides and flanks are more grayish brown in tint and but slightly washed with buff; the lower mandible appears to have been yellowish white, as in L. luteiventris. Length, 147; wing, 51; tail, 63.5; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 19.” (Grant.)
Bill long, depressed basally, compressed near the tip, with no notch at tip of mandible; rictal bristles few and moderate in length; no bristles on forehead; chin-feathers without lengthened shafts; wing short, rounded, and curved to the body; first primary less than one-half second, the latter considerably shorter than the fourth; fifth, sixth, and seventh subequal and longest; secondaries but little shorter than primaries; rectrices long, narrow, strongly graduated, and their tips rounded; tarsus about equal to culmen from base; outstretched feet usually reaching to, or beyond, the tip of tail; colors largely green, chestnut, gray, and white; or green, black, and gray or yellow.
Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino, Clemens, Bartsch); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Adult.—Forehead, lores, and ring around eye rufous-chestnut, sharply defined against the ashy gray crown; ear-coverts, sides of neck, and hind neck ashy gray like the crown; back, rump, tail-coverts, and edges of wing-feathers and of rectrices bright olive-green, the last with a dusky subterminal band; under parts white, more or less streaked with cinereous on throat and breast; sides ashy; flanks and under tail-coverts washed with light yellowish green; thighs chestnut. Length, about 115. A male from northern Mindanao measures: Wing, 44; tail, 35; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 19. A female from Bohol, wing, 41; tail, 34; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 19.
Specimens in fresh plumage have the occiput more or less washed with green; the dusky spots at end of tail are variable.
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
Adult.—Similar to Orthotomus frontalis, but the chestnut of forehead extending on crown to, or nearly to, posterior border of eye, not ending abruptly; the whole crown and nape slightly suffused with chestnut, the crown never clear slate-gray as in O. frontalis; behind eye the chestnut extends over the sides of nape. The type measures: Length, 114; wing, 47; tail, 45; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 11.5; tarsus, 20. Female, wing, 47; tail, 40; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 20.
Sa-gua-ti, Ticao; ta-gua-ti, Masbate and Bantayan.
Bantayan (McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Panay (Murray, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult.—Top of head from bill to neck, lores, a broad line under eye, and upper part of ear-coverts chestnut; back, rump, and tail-coverts slate-gray; the rump and tail-coverts green in some specimens; wing-feathers and rectrices edged with bright olive-green; tail with a dusky band near its tip; under parts white; throat and breast streaked with slate-gray; sides and flanks more or less washed with ashy gray; thighs chestnut, flanks and crissum washed with green in some specimens. Length, about 150. A male from Bantayan measures: Wing, 57; tail, 55; culmen from base, 20; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 23. A female, wing, 50; tail, 46; culmen from base, 18; tarsus, 22.
“Steere has attempted to separate the Panay tailorbird from that of Guimaras and Negros, but after a most careful examination of a large series of specimens from Panay, Negros, and Masbate we are compelled to say that there is not the slightest difference between the birds from the three islands. Their size is the same. The wash of olive-green on the back, on which Doctor Steere relied to separate the Panay birds, is a variable character present in some birds, absent in others shot at the same season. It occurs in birds from Negros and Masbate as well as those from Panay. The presumptive evidence against finding one species of Orthotomus in Panay and another in Guimaras is of course very strong. Guimaras is to all intents and purposes a part of Panay and there are no other known differences between the birds of the two islands. Masbate is a new locality for the species.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
“The chestnut-headed tailorbird frequents low bushes in open country, also the mangrove swamps; less common in the woods. A noisy bird, its note being very similar to that of O. frontalis.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Catanduanes (Whitehead); Luzon (Cuming, Everett, Möllendorff, Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor).
Adult.—Top of head from bill to nape, lores, narrow line under eye, and upper parts of ear-coverts chestnut; back, rump, and tail-coverts cinereous; wing-feathers brown, edged with olive-green; tail dull chestnut, edged with gray at base; under parts light gray, streaked with white on throat and breast; thighs chestnut; iris and legs tan-brown; nails flesh-color. Length, about 140. Male, wing, 50; tail, 50; culmen from base, 19; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 20.
“Habits similar to those of O. frontalis. A male measures as follows: Wing, 47; tail, 47; culmen, 18; tarsus, 19.5; middle toe with claw, 18. A female, wing, 46; tail, 41; culmen, 19; tarsus, 19.5; middle toe with claw, 17.5.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Pi-pit ma-na-ná-hi, Manila.
Luzon (Whitehead, McGregor).
Adult.—Differs from Orthotomus derbianus in having the entire back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and crissum olive-green and the rectrices edged basally with olive-green. A male measures: Wing, 49; tail, 47; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 21. A female, wing, 50; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 19.
Three eggs of the green-backed tailorbird from Isabela Province, Luzon, collected by Whitehead on May 29, 1894, are described as follows: “Shape ovate. Ground-color pure white, thinly spotted and dotted all over with brown-lake over-markings and a few pale reddish lilac under-markings. Measurements 16 mm. by 13 mm.
“The nest of the green-backed tailorbird is of the ordinary type, being a pocket formed by two leaves sewn together. It was placed among the herbage by the side of a path about 8 inches [20 cm.] from the ground. On the 19th of May a second nest was found on a small islet in a stream where a few slender large-leaved plants were growing just above the water. This nest contained two young birds.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, White, Celestino); Sibutu (Everett); Sitanki (Bartsch). Malay Peninsula, southern Tenasserim, Sumatra, Borneo.
Adult.—Top of head, lores, and upper ear-coverts chestnut; back, rump, and tail-coverts ashy gray; wing-feathers blackish, edged with ashy gray; rectrices chestnut, basal one-third or more ashy gray or brown; under parts including cheeks, and lower part of ear-coverts, silky white; breast, sides, flanks, and crissum washed more or less with pale buff. Length, about 125. Male, wing, 48; tail, 42; culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 20. Female, wing, 45; tail, 40; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 19.
In certain individuals (young?), each rectrix, except the two outer pairs, has a large black spot near its tip.
“This tailorbird is often found in the deepest forest; its habits are like those of the species already described. Birds from the Calamianes Islands average larger than those from Palawan. Four females from Palawan average: Length, 114; wing, 44; tail, 37; culmen, 17.5; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 15. Seven males from the Calamianes Islands, length, 130; wing, 50.5; tail, 46; culmen, 19; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 17. Iris light brown; legs, feet, and nails very light brown; upper mandible light brown, lower nearly white.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Cagayan Sulu (Guillemard, Mearns). Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo.
Male (Cagayan Sulu).—Forehead, crown, chin, entire sides of face, and ear-coverts chestnut-rufous; back dark gray; under parts gray, lighter on abdomen; wings dark brown, edged with lighter brown; tail with an indistinct, dark subterminal band.
“Adult male.—General color above clear ashy gray; the crown, sides of head, including the cheeks, ear-coverts, and chin bright cinnamon-rufous, the hinder crown and occiput gradually shading off into brown as they approach the hind neck; throat, neck, and under parts generally ashy gray; the center of the abdomen and under tail-coverts pure white; thighs deep cinnamon-rufous; under wing-coverts washed with rufous, as also is the edge of the wing; lower surface of quills dark brown, edged along the inner web with rufous-white; wings above brown, somewhat washed with olive and not so gray as the back, the primaries narrowly edged with whity brown; tail light brown, with paler brown margins, the outer feathers tipped with white, before which is a tolerably distinct subterminal bar of dark brown; bill in skin light horn-brown, the under mandible paler and more yellowish. ‘Legs pale warm brown; iris naples-yellow.’ (Everett). Length, 119; culmen, 14; wing, 47; tail, 44; tarsus, 19.
“Female.—Differs from the adult male in being white below, without the gray throat, although indications of the latter are generally seen in the grayish shade more or less observable on the lower throat and sides of breast. The cinnamon-color of the chin is also difficult to trace, being so faintly pronounced.
“Young.—General color above olive-brown; quills brown, externally washed with olive-green; tail brown, tipped obscurely with whity brown, with a subterminal shade of black, scarcely forming a spot; ear-coverts pale rufescent; under surface of body dull yellowish white, the thighs obscure fawn-color; center of the body pale yellowish, the sides of the breast and flanks obscurely washed with greenish.” (Sharpe.)
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Entire top of head, lores, and hind neck dark ashy gray; a large white patch on ear-coverts; remainder of upper parts olive-green, lighter on tail-coverts; wing-feathers blackish, edged with green; rectrices olive-brown, edged with green; cheeks, chin, and throat black; fore breast ashy gray; center of lower breast and abdomen white; sides, flanks, thighs, and crissum washed with yellow. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 47; tail, 55; culmen from base, 16.5; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 21.
Young.—The immature bird resembles the corresponding plumage in O. nigriceps, having more or less white on the chin and throat.
“Very common in Basilan. Eight from Basilan measure: Length, 126; wing, 47; tail, 76; culmen, 18.5; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 17.5. Six females, length, 111; wing, 45; tail, 41; tarsus, 19.5; middle toe with claw, 16. Iris brown; legs, feet, and nails very light brown, in some cases almost white; upper mandible nearly white, lower very light brown. Breeding in Basilan in August.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Mindanao (Everett, Celestino).
Adult.—Loral feathers white with black tips; ring around eye and superciliary stripe to above ear-coverts white; remainder of head, hind neck, sides of neck, chin, throat, and chest black; back, rump, and tail-coverts olive-green; wing-feathers blackish, edged with green, brighter and more yellow on greater coverts and bend of wing; rectrices brown, edged with green; middle of breast and abdomen smoky gray; sides, flanks, thighs, and crissum olive-green. Length, about 125. A male from northern Mindanao measures: Wing, 46; tail, 45; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 22.
Young.—In immature birds the cheeks, chin, throat, and breast are white.
Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Whitehead); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Adult male.—Entire head, neck, chin, throat, and middle of fore breast black; back and rump dull olive-green brighter around the neck; rump and tail-coverts dull russet-brown; wing-feathers blackish, edged with olive-green, the bend of wing and tips of greater median coverts yellow; rectrices brown, edged with russet; breast, sides of breast, and of neck, and abdomen lemon-yellow becoming olivaceous on sides, flanks, and crissum; thighs dull chestnut. The black of fore breast is sharply defined against the yellow, and does not extend over the sides of the chest as it does in O. nigriceps, but is confined to the central parts of the chest, its posterior outline being rounded. All the specimens known have more or less white on the chin and malar region, but this is variable in extent and is probably a sign of immaturity as it is in O. nigriceps. A male from Bohol measures: Length, 127; wing, 44; tail, 39; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 21.
The female is unknown.
“Iris light brown; bill brownish black, mandible pinkish brown; legs yellowish flesh-color. This bird has a sweet and powerful song and in this respect it differs from the other species. It is very shy and difficult to obtain.” (Whitehead.)
“The yellow-breasted tailorbird is extremely rare. A single specimen was secured by the Steere Expedition, and we were able to secure but one more. Both birds were shot in deep forest close to the bank of a stream. Our specimen, a male, measures: Length, 114; wing, 42.6; tail, 40; culmen, 19; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 18. Iris chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails very light brown; bill black. Breeding in August.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill small, slender, and sharply pointed; culmen gently curved in its terminal half; bill from nostril equal to hind-toe without claw; wing somewhat rounded and flat; difference between the length of primaries and of secondaries less than first primary; first primary slender, much less than one-half the second, the latter nearly as long as third; fourth and fifth equal and longest; rectrices long, much graduated, their tips rounded; the tail is similar to that of Orthotomus, but the feathers are much wider; tarsus and feet well developed, the outstretched toes reaching to or beyond tip of tail. Birds of this genus present puzzling seasonal changes of plumage. The tail is longer in the winter than in the breeding season, and the female is somewhat smaller than the male. The seasonal variation in color is great and has led ornithologists to name several species which do not exist. It is not certain that the smaller species found in the Philippines is really C. exilis, and it may be either C. erythrocephala Jerdon or C. semirufa Cabanis.74
Gug-nás, Batan; Tic-tic-ru-bo, Calayan.
Batan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Fuga (McGregor); Luzon (Heriot, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bartsch); Mindanao (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Bartsch). Indian and Malay Peninsulas, southern Europe, Indo-Chinese countries, Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands, Ceylon, China, Africa, Celebes.
Male, in worn plumage (Batan Island, June).—Above earthy brown; head and neck nearly uniform, much faded; feathers of back and tail-coverts with wide blackish brown centers; lores and superciliary line white; cheeks, ear-coverts, and under parts white; flanks and thighs ocherous-buff; wing-feathers dark or blackish brown with whitish edges; rectrices dark brown basally, followed by a wide ocherous-buff space, subterminal band blackish brown, wide tip white. Wing, 53; tail, 40; culmen from base, 12; bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 23.
Male and female in fresh plumage (Calayan Island, November).—Similar to the male described, but feathers on head blackish brown, edged with buff; neck, rump, and edges of dorsal feathers dark buff, more rusty buff on rump; edges of wing-feathers wider and more rusty than in the worn plumage; middle pair of rectrices dark buff with blackish shaft-streaks, the shafts light; outermost pair of rectrices with outer webs and wide tips white, the greater part of inner webs blackish; remaining rectrices with wide white tips and subterminal black bands, the latter fading into dark brown toward base of tail; under part of body white; breast and crissum washed with buff; flanks and thighs rusty buff. Male, wing, 56; tail, 53; culmen from base, 11; bill from nostril, 7; tarsus, 22. Female, wing, 48; tail, 46; culmen from base, 10; bill from nostril, 7; tarsus, 20.
On the authority of Colonel Legge, Sharpe says that in the male the inside of the mouth is black, while in the female it is fleshy.
“Common in the deep grass of the open fields. The habits of the various species of this genus found in the Philippines are practically the same. They live in the grass, and when flushed fly in a curious, jerky way for a short distance, and then drop back into the grass where they instantly disappear. They sometimes perch on tall grass stems or low bushes, and make a series of noises more like the notes of some great grasshopper than those of a bird. We several times found them perched in trees and singing. Four females from Mindanao measure: Length, 105; wing, 46; tail, 38; culmen, 12; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 17. Legs, feet, and nails pale reddish brown; upper mandible nearly black, lower pale at tip, black at base.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Pí-rot, Bohol, Siquijor; pi-pit co-gon, Manila.
Bantayan (McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Caluya (Porter); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Bartsch); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Panay (Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Semirara (McGregor & Worcester); Sibay (McGregor & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor). Southern China, India Peninsula, Burmese provinces, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, Australia, Formosa.
Adult male (May to August).—Top of head golden buff becoming dusky on hind neck; back ashy gray heavily streaked with black; lower back, rump, and tail-coverts dark tawny buff; under parts heavily washed with tawny buff, most heavily on sides and thighs; middle of breast and thighs lighter and nearly white; wing-feathers blackish brown, more or less edged with ashy gray or rusty buff; tail blackish, tipped with dark buff. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 42; tail, 31; culmen from base, 10; bill from nostril, 6; tarsus, 29.
Female.—Similar to the male, but top of head fulvous-brown, heavily streaked with black.
Male in non-breeding plumage resembles the female, having a streaked crown and the under parts mostly white.
Young, in first plumage, resemble the adult in non-breeding plumage, but the under parts, especially the face, throat, and breast, are washed with pale lemon-yellow.
“Three males from Sulu measure: Length, 90; wing, 40.6; tail, 35.5; culmen, 11.6; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 14. Two females, length, 97; wing, 40; tail, 36.5; culmen, 12; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 15.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Bill small and slender, culmen gently curved; bill from nostril a little less than hind toe without claw; rictal bristles few and small; first primary more than one-half second, the latter considerably exceeded by third; fifth and sixth equal and longest; rectrices long, pointed, and much graduated, the inner ones usually considerably abraded; tail much longer than wing; tarsus long and heavy; toes short; tarsus about two-fifths of wing.
Su-nód ca-la-bao, Manila.
Bohol (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Luzon (Cuming, Kittlitz, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor, Bartsch); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Mearns); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Everett, Schmacker, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Steere Exp.); Ticao (McGregor). Manipur, Burmese provinces, southeastern New Guinea, northern and central India to Bhutun and Buxa Doars, Assam, Java.
Adult.—Above sandy buff; back heavily streaked with black; top of head and tail-coverts faintly streaked with brown; superciliary line white; ear-coverts and space behind eye sandy brown; lores and cheeks whitish; under parts white; sides of breast, flanks, thighs, and crissum washed with buff; lower throat, sides, and crissum with dark brown shaft-lines; wing-feathers blackish, edged with pale sandy buff; basal portion of primaries and secondaries edged with light rusty buff; rectrices brown, edged with lighter brown. Iris brown; upper mandible brown, lower mandible horn-blue; legs and feet brown. In worn plumage the upper parts appear much blacker and the shaft-streaks on under parts are more prominent. A male from Luzon measures: Wing, 100; tail, 142; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 36. A female in worn plumage, wing, 85; tail, 113; culmen from base, 18; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 33.
Young.—Immature birds are distinguished by having sides of head and under parts washed with pale lemon-yellow. In Benguet Province, Luzon, this species was found breeding during April and May.
“The striated marsh warbler is found about the open fields. It runs rapidly on the ground and skulks in bamboo thickets and patches of tall grass and weeds. It soars and attempts to sing while on the wing; also perches at the very top of bamboo clumps, and ‘sings’ vigorously.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Banton (Celestino); Basilan (Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Bohol (Steere Exp., McGregor); Cebu (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (McGregor); Mindanao (Platen, Goodfellow, Celestino); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Keay, Celestino); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Samar (Whitehead); Sibuyan (McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult.—Entire top of head rufous-brown; sides of neck and back olive-gray, the latter heavily streaked with blackish brown; lower back and rump olive-brown; tail-coverts olive-gray with narrow brown shaft-lines; lores, superciliary line, cheeks, and ear-coverts ashy gray; a rufous line behind eye; under parts whitish; sides ashy gray, flanks browner; thighs and crissum buff; wings and tail brown with lighter brown edges. A male from Mindanao measures: Wing, 69; tail, 107; culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 28. A female from Luzon, wing, 66; tail, 114; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 27.
“Five males average: Length, 225; wing, 71; tail, 109; culmen, 18.5; tarsus, 27.6; middle toe with claw, 28. Five females, length, 211; wing, 68; tail, 104; culmen, 18.5; tarsus, 27.6; middle toe with claw, 28. Iris brown; legs and feet light brown.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Three eggs of Tweeddale’s marsh warbler, collected by Steere in Marinduque, May 8, 1888, are thus described: “Shape ovate. Ground-color very pale pinkish white, sparingly marked all over with small blotches and minute dots of light red and pale violet-gray under-markings, the latter forming a more or less distinct zone round the larger pole. Measurements 21 mm. by 16 mm. Nest of the bulbul type, lined with fine wiry grasses and fiber.” (Grant and Whitehead.)
Bill slender and acute, a slight notch near its tip; rictal and nasal bristles short; wing long and pointed; first primary very short, slender and acute, usually little more or less in length than primary-coverts; third and fourth primaries longest; tail moderate in length and square; tarsus and toes slender; bill from nostril less than one-half tarsus and equal to hind toe with half its claw; divisions between tarsal scutes obsolete. Upper parts dull olive-green, under parts pale yellow or white. The birds of this genus resemble some of the small flycatchers (Cryptolopha), but are distinguished by their short first primary.
Balabac (Everett); Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Cebu (McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Fuga (McGregor); Guimaras (Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Everett); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Whitehead, McGregor, Bartsch); Maestre de Campo (McGregor & Worcester); Masbate (Steere Exp.); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Celestino); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Negros (Whitehead); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Panay (Steere Exp.); Polillo (McGregor); Romblon (Bourns & Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester); Siquijor (Celestino); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor). Northern Europe, northern Asia, Alaska, Commander Islands; in winter to China, Formosa, Indo-Chinese provinces, Malay Peninsula, and Borneo.
“Coloration.—Upper plumage olive-green, lighter on the rump; wings brown, the outer webs edged with olive-green; wing-coverts brown on the inner and olive-green on the outer webs; the median and greater coverts with yellowish white tips forming two bars; tail brown, the outer webs edged with olive-green; a broad and well-defined eye-streak, reaching to the nape, yellowish white; lores brown; ear-coverts olive mingled with yellowish; under plumage white, suffused with yellow; under wing-coverts and axillars pale yellow.
“As the summer goes on the wing-bars get worn away and the upper one is sometimes absent. The lower plumage gets whiter and the upper plumage duller. After the autumn molt the wing-bars are very conspicuous and the under parts become suffused with deeper yellow.
“Upper mandible dark brown, the edges and tip yellow; gape and basal half of the lower mandible orange-yellow, terminal half dusky; mouth bright orange-yellow; iris dark brown; legs flesh-color tinged with yellow; claws yellowish horn-color. Length, 122; tail, 51; wing, 68.5; tarsus, 20; bill from gape, 17; the second primary is intermediate in length between the fifth and sixth, and is sometimes equal to the sixth; the first primary is very small, measuring from 7.6 to 11.4 in length.” (Oates.)
The arctic willow warbler is the commonest species of the genus and is found in the Philippines during the winter months. Most of the specimens taken at this time have the under parts but faintly suffused with yellow and in this plumage the wing-bar is indicated by light spots on the outer webs of some of the greater coverts. This plainly colored species is usually seen flitting among the branches of forest trees and at such heights that it can not be distinguished from other species of similar habits.
Apo (Celestino); Basilan (McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Cebu (McGregor); Luzon (Celestino); Mindanao (Celestino); Palawan (Everett). Mongolia, Japan, Kamtchatka, and the Kurile Islands; in winter to southern China and Borneo.
“Spring plumage.—General color of the upper parts olive, slightly yellower on the rump; eye-stripe well defined, narrow, yellowish white, extending to the nape; lores and the feathers behind the eye to the nape dark olive; wing-coverts olive, the median wing-coverts with narrow, and the greater wing-coverts with broad yellowish white tips, forming an obscure upper wing-bar and a conspicuous lower wing-bar; quills brown, narrowly tipped with grayish white, the outside web edged with green and emarginated as in the preceding species; tail-feathers brown, the outside web margined with green, and the inside web with a narrow well defined grayish white margin; general color of the under parts greenish yellow, grayer on the breast and flanks; axillars, under wing-coverts, and thighs pale yellow; inner margin of quills grayish white. Bill acrocephaline; upper mandible dark brown, under mandible pale; legs, feet, and claws brown; third and fourth primaries longest; second primary usually intermediate in length between the sixth and fifth, sometimes slightly shorter than the sixth; bastard [first] primary measuring 12.7 to 15.2 mm. Length of wing, male, 72.1 to 68.5; female, 68.5 to 66; tail, male, 53.3 to 49.5; female, 49.5 to 45.7; culmen, 12.9 to 13.9; tarsus, 20.3.
“The changes of plumage in this species are similar to those of the preceding species, but at all seasons of the year the general color of the under parts is much paler in color in P. borealis (Blasius). The smaller size and smaller first primary of the latter species serve, however, to distinguish even birds of the year from the present species, though they approach each other very closely.” (Swinhoe.)
The yellow willow warbler is undoubtedly much rarer in the Philippines than the next preceding species, but upon a careful examination of available material I find it necessary to refer to this species a number of specimens which were previously recorded as A. borealis. These changes will be found in the list of localities under each species.
Basilan (Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Steere); Samar (Steere Exp.). Western China to Chuan-che, eastern Himalayas; in winter to eastern Bengal and Burmese provinces.
“Coloration.—Very similar to A. magnirostris, but rather darker and smaller, and differing also in the proportions of the primaries. Upper mandible dark brown, lower one yellowish, somewhat dusky on the terminal half; iris brown; mouth yellow; legs brown; claws horn-color. Length, 127; tail, 53; wing, 66; tarsus, 19; bill from gape, 15.7; the second primary is intermediate in length between the ninth and tenth, and sometimes equals the tenth; the first primary is very long, being sometimes 20.3 mm. in length.” (Oates.)
I have not seen a full description of this species; it is usually compared with A. magnirostris, but its very long first primary would seem to be a character sufficient to prevent its being mistaken for either of the other species found in the Philippine Islands.
Bill short and stout with a small notch near the tip; rictal bristles few and well developed, a few short bristles in front of them; some feathers of forehead and chin with long bristle-like shafts; wing moderate to short, somewhat pointed, or else rounded, either shorter or longer than tail; first primary well developed but much (one-third to one-half) shorter than second, the latter considerably shorter than third; tail strongly rounded; tarsus and feet strong, hind toe and claw heavy; bill from nostril, less than one-half the tarsus, and equal to the hind toe without claw. Colors earthy brown, buff, and white; spots and bars entirely wanting.
Apo (Celestino); Calayan (McGregor); Luzon (Whitehead, McGregor). Southern Ussuri Land to Lake Chanka, Formosa; in winter to Cachar and southern China.
Adult.—Above nearly uniform wood-brown; lighter on rump and tail-coverts; a dusky spot before and behind eye; eyelids white; a whitish line from bill over eye to nape; cheeks and ear-coverts buffy brown; under parts white, washed with buff on sides, flanks, crissum, and across fore breast; thighs slate-gray; wings brown, the feathers edged with russet; tail brown; axillars, wing-lining, edge of wing, and inner edges of quills white. Iris brown; bill dark brown above and light below; legs light horn. A male from Calayan measures: Length, 170; wing, 77; tail, 75; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 27.
Calayan (McGregor). Hainan, Askold Island, southern China.
Adult.—This species differs from H. canturians in being much smaller, and the tail-feathers appear to be less pointed. Length, about 145. A male from Calayan measures: Wing, 62; tail, 61; culmen from base, 14; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 22. A female, wing, 62; tail, 60; culmen from base, 13; bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 22. Exposed portion of first primary little more than one-half of second; fourth and fifth equal and longest.
In the Philippine Islands the little bush warbler is known only as a winter visitant to Calayan Island.
Luzon (Whitehead, McGregor).
Adult.—Above dusky wood-brown, slightly olivaceous on the back and more russet-brown on the rump, tail-coverts, and margins of the rectrices; wings brown, the quills edged with russet; the first three primaries, however, fringed with much lighter brown; wing-coverts olivaceous; eyelids and eye-stripe whitish or pale buff; a dusky spot before and behind eye; under parts whitish; sides of neck and breast washed with olivaceous; flanks and crissum yellowish buff; thighs brown. Iris light brown; upper mandible dusky, lower mandible, legs, and nails flesh-color. Length, about 140. Male, wing, 55; tail, 63; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 24. Female, wing, 52; tail, 60; culmen from base, 14; bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 23.
Although this species resembles H. minutus both in size and color, it might be placed in another genus. The tail is decidedly longer than the wing, the latter rounded and weak; the first primary is equal to two-thirds of second and one-half of third; the fifth and sixth are nearly equal and longest. The plumage is somewhat decomposed and is less compact than in H. minutus.
In size and superficial appearance Phyllergates resembles Orthotomus, but the two genera are really very distinct. In Phyllergates the bill is much wider and more depressed at the base, and blunter at the tip; the rictal bristles are slightly longer; the wing is longer; the tarsus and feet are more slender; the rectrices are much wider, nearly uniform in length, except the short outermost pair, and but ten in number.
Luzon (Whitehead, McGregor).
Adult.—Forehead and crown cadmium-yellow; occiput and neck slate-gray; a line of lemon-yellow over eye; remainder of upper parts, including edges of the wing-feathers and rectrices, olive-green; (rump lemon-yellow in the male); inner webs of primaries edged with white; lores and band behind eye dusky gray; ear-coverts, cheeks, chin, throat, and fore breast silky white; remainder of under parts, including edge of wing, axillars, and wing-lining, bright lemon-yellow. Bill dusky brown; base of lower mandible lighter; legs pale yellow; nails light brown. Length, about 115. Male, wing, 44; tail, 42; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 18. Female, wing, 42; tail, 37; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril, 10; tarsus, 18.
The Luzon tailor warbler is abundant in the Province of Benguet; its habits are similar to those of the lowland tailorbirds which it seems to replace in the mountains.
Mindanao (Mearns).
Adult (sex?).—“Whole top and sides of head cinnamon-rufous; chin, throat, and sides of neck cinnamon; upper parts olive-green, yellower on upper tail-coverts; upper wing-coverts and wing-quills brownish black, edged with olive-green on outer webs; tail-feathers drab, edged with olive-green; breast and belly canary-yellow; thighs and crissum olive-yellow; axillars and under wing-coverts yellow; quills edged with white on inner webs. Iris brown; bill with maxilla brown; mandible yellow, tipped with red; feet pale yellowish brown. Length, 121; alar expanse, 150; wing, 50; tail, 47; culmen, 14; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 13.5.” (Mearns.)