Prioniturus verticalis Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club (1893), 3,
10; Ibis (1894), 248, pl. 6; Hand-List (1900), 2, 29; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 48.
Bongao (Everett); Sibutu (Everett); Tawi Tawi (Everett, Bourns
& Worcester).
Male.--Crown light blue with a small scarlet patch in the center;
forehead, nape, and sides of head grass-green; neck and sides of neck
yellowish green; remainder of upper parts, including exposed edges of
wing- and tail-feathers, dark grass-green; lower parts greenish yellow,
breast clearer yellow, abdomen, flanks, and crissum more greenish. A
male from Tawi Tawi measures: Wing, 180; tail with rackets, 150;
culmen from front margin of cere, 21.
Female.--"Differs from the male in being emerald-green all over, and
wanting the verditer-blue on the head as well as the scarlet spot on
the latter." (Sharpe.)
"Discovered by us in October, 1891; it is the finest of the Philippines
representatives of the genus. Found in deep forest, but especially
abundant in the high mangrove trees south of Tataan. The amount of
red on its head is exaggerated in the plate in The Ibis, and it is
too light in color.
"Eight males from Tawi Tawi measure, 268 in length; wing, 171; tail,
exclusive of racket, 90; culmen, 22; tarsus, 15; middle toe with
claw, 29. Four females measure, length, 255; wing, 165; tail, 96;
culmen, 21; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 28. Iris varies from
pale yellow to hazel; legs and feet gray; nails gray to black; bill
gray to white." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)