Surniculus velutinus Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. Zool. (1877),
1, 320; Shelley, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1891), 19, 230; Bourns
and Worcester, Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1,
49; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 156; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 60.
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
McGregor); Luzon (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Mindanao
(Everett, Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Mindoro (McGregor);
Negros (Whitehead); Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Sulu
(Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Everett, Bourns & Worcester).
"Adult.--Very closely allied to S. lugubris; tail always square,
with the exception of the outer pair of feathers, which are much
shorter; it differs in having the head, back, throat, and breast
velvety black, with absolutely no trace of white on any of the
tail-coverts, and a distinct narrow white basal edging to the
tail-feathers. 'Iris dark chocolate-brown; bill and claws black;
feet bluish gray.' (Everett.) Length, 203; culmen, 23; wing, 119;
tail, 109; tarsus, 14. The sexes are similar in plumage." (Shelley.)
"Immature.--A young bird from Basilan, two-thirds grown, is light
rusty brown in color, lightest on under surface; crown and nape show
metallic blue-black feathers; one of the scapulars, many feathers of
rump, and all of tail same color, mostly tipped with rusty brown;
wing-coverts rusty brown with faint dark shaft-markings appearing;
upper surface of wing black, faintly metallic, all the feathers
edged with rusty brown; under surface of body uniform light brown;
wing-coverts white strongly washed with brown at tips; white spot on
inner webs of primaries appearing; under surface of tail dull metallic
blue, each feather with several spots of white.
"A bird nearly grown shows numerous brown feathers on head and
back. Primaries washed with rusty brown, primary-coverts uniform
brown. Throat, chin, and upper breast nearly black. A third has general
color of adult but some feathers of head, nape, primary-coverts,
breast and abdomen as well as tips of some of the secondaries are
washed with rusty brown." (Bourns and Worcester.)
"Abundant in Basilan; not uncommon in Tawi Tawi and Sulu. Found in
the forest, or in second growth. Five males average, 215 in length;
wing, 116; tail, 110; culmen, 23; tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw,
21. Five females, length, 212; wing, 115; tail, 106; culmen, 23;
tarsus, 15; middle toe with claw, 20. Bill and nails black; iris
black to leaden; food insects." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Genus HIEROCOCCYX S. Müller, 1839-44.
Superficially this genus resembles Cuculus but differs by its
comparatively shorter primaries and longer secondaries. In plumage
and flight these cuckoos mimic the smaller Accipitrine hawks, and this
probably protects them from the attacks of the larger hawks and owls.
Species.
a1. Breast with distinct blackish brown bars, tip of tail white;
wing, 200 mm. or more. ... sparverioides (p. 368)
a2. Breast without bars; tip of tail rufous; wing, 180 mm. or
less. ... fugax (p. 369)