Carpophaga poliocephala Hartlaub, Jour. für Orn. (1855), 97;
Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1893), 21, 209; Whitehead, Ibis
(1899), 487.
Zonophaps poliocephala Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 65; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 12.
Basilan (Steere Exp., McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester); Dinagat
(Everett); Leyte (Whitehead); Luzon (Gevers, Whitehead); Masbate
(Steere Exp.); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Goodfellow); Mindoro
(McGregor); Negros (Steere, Keay); Panay (Bourns & Worcester);
Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor); Tawi Tawi (Bourns
& Worcester).
Adult (sexes alike).--Head and a narrow band across throat pale gray,
vinous on crown and occiput; a large patch of light chestnut on chin;
lower breast and abdomen pale vinous; abdomen freckled with chestnut,
the color becoming rich chestnut-brown on flanks, thighs, and under
tail-coverts; tail black below, crossed at about 40 mm. from tip by a
pale gray band which shows both above and below; when the specimen
is held toward the light, the crop, breast, sides of neck, and
upper parts, except head, are rich green; held away from the light,
tail and its coverts, rump, distal wing-coverts, secondaries, and
breast become largely coppery or bronze-color; hind neck vinaceous
gray, proximal wing-coverts, tertials, and interscapular region
deep vinous-purple. Bill black; "iris indian-yellow, passing into
red on outer ring;" legs, feet, and skin about eye crimson; nails
gray. Length, 400 to 430; a male from Sibuyan measures: Wing, 235;
tail, 156; culmen from base, 24; tarsus, 32; a female from Sibuyan,
wing, 235; tail, 154; culmen from base, 24; tarsus, 27.
"Comparatively rare and usually frequents the loftiest trees. For
a long time we mistook its deep booming note for the hoot of some
great owl. Occasionally it comes down into low second-growth where
it is easily shot, being very stupid about making its escape.
"Iris with outer red and inner yellow or brown ring; legs and feet
red; nails dark brown; bill black; eyelids red. Length 400." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)