Psittacus discurus Vieillot, Gal. des Ois. (previous to 1823),
1, 7, pl. 26.
Prioniturus discurus Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1891),
20, 417; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 29, McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 49.
Prioniturus discurus suluënsis Blasius, Jour. für Orn. (1890),
140. [35]
Pa-lé-ta, Manila; ma-ná-guin, Ticao; ca-gak', Bohol.
Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Doherty,
McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu
(Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Luzon
(Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Masbate (Steere Exp.,
Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Cuming, Murray, Everett,
Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Negros
(Steere Exp., Whitehead, Keay); Samar (Steere Exp., Whitehead);
Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Sulu (Burbidge, Platen,
Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.--General color green, vertex verditer-blue changing with the
light; rest of head, neck, and face bright grass-green; rest of upper
parts and wings dark green; below uniform yellowish green; spatules
black, sometimes tinged with green or with blue; short rectrices
blue along shaft, bordered with green and tipped with black. Sexes
alike. Iris dark; cere very dark blue; bill light horn-blue; feet
and nails darker blue. Length, including rackets, 292 to 317; four
specimens from Ticao measure, wing, 160 to 169; tail without rackets,
76 to 85; culmen from cere, 21 to 23; tarsus, 15 to 17.
"A common and widely spread species. P. discurus, as well as the
other five Philippine representatives of the genus, is usually met
with in the forest or in fruit trees in the open, where it has gone
to feed. At certain seasons it frequents the mangrove swamps. All the
Philippine species are birds of very rapid flight, and scream almost
constantly when on the wing. They usually fly in small flocks. In
the forest they make the most of their protective coloring, and one
may pass within ten feet of one without seeing it.
"Measurements are given exclusive of rackets. Four males from Basilan
measure, 232 in length; wing, 149; tail, 66; culmen, 21; tarsus, 14;
middle toe with claw, 28.
"Sibuyan birds are slightly larger, and have a light yellowish green
area on back, but we do not feel warranted in separating them. Three
females from Sibuyan measure, 257 in length; wing, 161; tail, 134;
culmen, 22; tarsus, 16; middle toe with claw, 29. Iris brown; legs
and feet leaden; nails blackish; bill grayish white." (Bourns and
Worcester MS.)