Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1877),
1, 315, pl. 46, fig. 1; Hand-List (1900), 2, 228; Hargitt,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 452; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 65.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Palawan (Steere, Everett, Lempriere, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Celestino, White).
Male.--Entire head, sides of head, and upper throat crimson, the throat
very pale, almost rose-color, and with three narrow black lines, one in
the middle and one on each side; ear-coverts black; mantle and wings
golden yellow; back and rump scarlet; tail black; feathers of under
parts white with a slight buff wash and black edges, producing the
spotted appearance usual in this genus; tail blackish brown. Length,
about 280; wing, 153; tail, 98; culmen from base, 43; tarsus, 27.
Female.--Differs from the male in having forehead, crown, and crest
olive greenish tinged with red, each feather with a light yellow spot
near its tip. Wing, 147; tail, 97; culmen from base, 42; tarsus, 27.
"Young female.--Resembles the adult male in having the top of the head
and the crest entirely red, but the color is scarlet (not crimson)
and the feathers are extremely soft; there is less red on the face
and upper part of the side of the neck, and only a tinge of this
color on the chin and throat; the general color above and on the
wings is more olive, and the feathers of the back, the scapulars,
the lesser and median wing-coverts are margined with reddish orange;
the scapulars and the feathers of the back and rump have the partially
exposed black bases spotted with white; on the outer primaries there
is a subapical spot of dull white. Described from a specimen sexed
female by Mr. John Whitehead." (Hargitt.)
"Much less common than T. everetti. Never met with outside of the
forest; feeds on insect larvæ. A male measures, 274 in length; wing,
147; tail, 81; culmen, 41; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 32. Three
females average, 274 in length; wing, 147; tail, 86; culmen, 37;
tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw, 31. Iris dark red; legs and feet
dirty olive, nails lighter; bill white at tip, greenish yellow at
base." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)