Ptilopus bangueyensis Meyer, Jour. für Orn. (1891), 70; Salvadori,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1893), 21, 143.
Spilotreron bangueyensis Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 61; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 11.
Ptilopus purpureinucha Meyer, Jour. für Orn. (1891), 71.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Bongao (Everett); Cagayan Sulu (Mearns); Mindanao (Everett, Steere
Exp.); Palawan (Lempriere, Whitehead); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu
(Burbidge, Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns &
Worcester). Banguey.
Adult male.--Bright leaf-green, mantle slightly yellowish; head, neck,
and throat pearly gray; chin and upper throat yellow; a large patch
on occiput and hind neck black; lower abdomen and short tail-coverts
bright yellow; longer tail-coverts bright carmine, narrowly tipped
with yellow; secondaries and greater coverts very narrowly edged with
yellow. Eyelids, iris, and bill greenish yellow; feet rose-pink;
nails brown. Length, 240. Two males from Basilan, wing, 123, 116;
tail, 85; exposed culmen, 16, 15; middle toe with claw, 26.
Adult female.--Entirely green, except the under tail-coverts which
are green, washed with carmine, and narrowly tipped with yellow. Two
females from Basilan measure: Wing, 121, 118; tail, 79, 80; exposed
culmen, 16, 14; middle toe with claw, 26, 25.
Young.--Similar to the adult female but with little or no carmine on
under tail-coverts.
"This, the most northern form of the Spilotreron group, is very
nearly related to the most southern one, from which it is not easily
distinguished. The slight purple tinge of the black occipital spot,
on which Dr. Meyer relies to separate the Basilan bird, appears only
in certain individuals, but is absent in the majority of specimens. As
to the collar of the bird from Banguey, which is described as whitish
gray, I do not find that it is different from that of the specimens
from other localities." (Salvadori.)
"The blue spot on the nape on which Meyer relies to separate the
Basilan birds is a minus quantity in our five specimens from that
island, though they are in breeding plumage. This species is quite
common in Sulu and Tawi Tawi, and is sometimes found feeding in
isolated trees in open fields.
"Iris yellow; legs dark pink; feet same color; nails nearly black; bill
and eye-wattle light greenish yellow. Length, 230; wing, 121; tail,
81; culmen, 33; middle toe with claw, 29." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Subfamily MUSCADIVORINÆ.
This group includes the largest species of forest pigeons.
Genera.
a1. Colors above, except head, metallic blue, green, purple, or bronze;
or the tail at least metallic green above.
b1. First primary not scooped on inner web; lower parts uniform in
color. ... Muscadivores (p. 42)
b2. First primary deeply scooped on inner web.
c1. No light band on tail. ... Ptilocolpa (p. 45)
c2. Tail crossed by a conspicuous gray band. ... Zonophaps (p. 48)
a2. Colors cream and slate; no metallic colors on any part of
plumage. ... Myristicivora (p. 50)
Genus MUSCADIVORES Gray, 1855.
Inner web of first primary very slightly attenuated; gape deeply cleft;
tarsus stout and feathered in front for half its length. Upper parts,
except head and neck, metallic blue or green; tail nearly uniform
with the back and wings, without a light band; head and lower parts
pearl-gray or pale vinaceous-gray.
Species.
a1. Larger; back and scapulars glossy green or coppery bronze.
b1. Nape with a coppery chestnut patch. ... nuchalis (p. 43)
b2. Nape without a coppery chestnut patch.
c1. Gray of mantle lighter and more sharply defined from the
green back.
d1. Upper surface of tail lighter and greener. ... chalybura
(p. 43)
d2. Upper surface of tail darker and bluer. ... palawanensis
(p. 44)
c2. Gray of mantle darker and less sharply defined. ... ænea
(p. 44)
a2. Smaller; back and scapulars glossy brown with but little metallic
color.
b1. Under parts lighter. ... pickeringi (p. 44)
b2. Under parts darker. ... langhornei (p. 45)