Merops philippinus Linnæus, Syst. Nat. ed. 12 (1766), 1, 183; in
errata; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 71; Hand-List
(1900), 2, 74; Blanford, Fauna Brit. Ind. Bds. (1895), 3, 111,
fig. 31 (head); Meyer and Wiglesworth, Bds. Celebes (1898), 1,
253, pl. 8, fig. 2 (tail); McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 57; Oates and Reid, Cat. Birds' Eggs (1903), 3, 51.
Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester);
Bazol (Everett); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Cebu (Murray, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.);
Leyte (Everett); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester);
Mindanao (Steere, Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester);
Mindoro (McGregor); Negros (Meyer, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Keay); Panay (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester);
Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor); Siquijor (Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Sulu (Bourns & Worcester);
Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Malay and Indian Peninsulas,
Indo-Chinese Provinces, Ceylon, Celebes, Malayan islands.
Adult (sexes alike).--Above dark green mixed with a little dull
chestnut; occasional touches of blue on head; rump and upper
tail-coverts cerulean-blue; a narrow line of blue across forehead,
ending on each side over posterior border of eye; a broad black band
from nostril through eye to and including ear-coverts; chin light
yellow; a wide chestnut band on throat; breast, sides, and abdomen
green, mixed with ocherous-buff and touches of pale greenish blue;
vent and under tail-coverts delicate sky-blue; wings and tail nearly as
in Merops americanus. Iris red; bill, legs, and nails black. Length,
with a full-grown tail, about 305. Measurements of three males from
Luzon: Wing, 126 to 133; tail, without central pair of feathers, 89
to 93; bill from nostril, 35 to 36. Three females from Luzon: Wing,
124 to 125; tail, without long feathers, 89 to 91; bill from nostril,
31 to 33.
Young.--"Much duller in color generally, with the blue tail and rump
of the adult, but without the blue eyebrow, this being replaced by
a little lighter green shade than on the crown; cheeks pale green;
throat pale brownish." (Sharpe.)
"We can not agree with Dr. Steere that M. philippinus feeds only
singly or in pairs, having repeatedly seen it feeding in large flocks,
and even in company with M. americanus.
"Iris red; legs and feet dark brown; nails and bill black. Six males
average, 255 in length; wing, 122; tail, 94; culmen, 36; tarsus,
11; middle toe with claw, 20. Eight females, length, 240; wing, 124;
tail, 94; culmen, 35; tarsus, 11; middle toe with claw, 18." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)
Suborder CAPRIMULGI.
Ten primaries and ten rectrices; wing long and pointed; gape very
wide; bill small and weak; legs and feet moderate and rather weak;
middle toe-nail pectinate; toes with slight webs at base; plumage
soft and mottled; in habits crepuscular and probably nocturnal,
feeding largely on moths and large beetles. The two mottled eggs are
deposited on the bare ground.
Family CAPRIMULGIDÆ.
Characters same as those given for the Suborder.
Subfamily CAPRIMULGINÆ.
Genera.
a1. Rictus without conspicuous bristles; feathers on sides of
occiput elongated, forming ear-tufts; larger, wing more than 250
mm. ... Lyncornis (p. 342)
a2. Rictus armed with strong bristles; no elongated feathers on head;
smaller, wing less than 230 mm. ... Caprimulgus (p. 344)
Genus LYNCORNIS Gould, 1838.
Similar to Caprimulgus but rictal bristles wanting; a conspicuous
ear-tuft on each side of head; no large white spot on primaries.