Ramphiculus occipitalis Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium (1854), 2, 17.
Xenotreron incognita Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1877), 832.
Ptilopus occipitalis Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1893),
21, 72.
Leucotreron occipitalis Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 55; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1907), 10.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., McGregor); Cebu (Everett, Bourns &
Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Steere Exp.); Luzon (Meyer, Steere
Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp.,
Goodfellow); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros
(Whitehead); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).--Forehead pale gray with a yellow wash, blending
into light slate-gray mixed with green on center of crown; on back
of head a wide band of dark purple or deep cherry-red, extending
over ear-coverts and sides of face below the eyes; remainder of
upper parts, including wings and tail, nearly uniform, rich green;
rectrices and quills partly blue when held toward the light; whole
upper parts slightly bronze away from the light; feathers of chin and
upper throat white with a yellow wash on tips; lower throat and sides
of neck and breast light gray; breast covered by a large oval patch
of old-gold-yellow, just behind this a broad band of deep purple;
middle of abdomen pearl-gray and white; sides and flanks green;
under tail-coverts light buff, the inner webs largely green; rectrices
gray below with light gray tips, above very narrowly edged with light
ocherous; some of the primaries and secondaries narrowly edged with
buff; tips of the green tarsal feathers reaching toes. A male from
Sibuyan measures: Length, 340; wing, 160; tail, 115; culmen from base,
18; middle toe with claw, 35. A male from Basilan: Wing, 148; tail,
115; culmen from base, 18; middle toe with claw, 33. A female from
Mindoro: Length, 320; wing, 153; tail, 113; culmen from base, 19;
middle toe with claw, 34.
Young.--The immature bird differs from the adult in having top of head,
neck, and sides of face uniform green (or with a few purple feathers)
and the yellow and purple areas of breast indicated by a few scattered
feathers of these colors. The first primary is attenuated but not so
abruptly cut on inner web as it is in the adult. In a young female
from Sibuyan the bill was dull red at base; tip brown; feet pink;
nails black.