Picus javensis Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1821), 13, pt. 1, 175.
Thriponax javensis Hargitt, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1890), 18, 498
(part); Grant, Ibis (1894), 409; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 231
(part); McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 66 (part). [47]
Thriponax javensis var. suluensis Blasius, Jour. für
Ornith. (1890), 140.
Tul-tu-lan, Benguet.
Bongao (Everett); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Luzon
(Meyer, Everett, Heriot, Whitehead, McGregor); Mindanao (Koch &
Schadenberg, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
Goodfellow); Sulu (Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns &
Worcester, Everett). Malay Peninsula, southern Tenasserim, Sumatra,
Java, Borneo, Banka.
Adult male.--Nasal tufts black; forehead, crown, occipital crest,
and malar stripe bright scarlet; feathers of forehead and crown with
white bases; feathers of crest with white bases; remainder of head,
chin, throat, breast, and entire upper parts black; feathers of lower
back with concealed white or gray bases; a few narrow white stripes
on throat and behind ear-coverts; abdomen and flanks pale yellow or
buffy white; thighs black, some of the feathers with pale buff edges;
under tail-coverts black; wings and tail black; three or four primaries
white at base of inner web; secondaries with considerable white on
inner webs. Length, about 435; wing, 210; tail, 170; culmen from base,
53; bill from nostril, 41; width of bill at gape, 19; tarsus, 32.
Adult female.--Similar to the male but the forehead, crown, and malar
region black, occipital crest alone being red. These sexual differences
are found in all the Philippine species of the genus. Wing, 200; tail,
160; culmen from base, 47; bill from nostril, 38; width of bill at
gape, 18; tarsus, 31.
Here described from Luzon specimens. An adult male from Trong, lower
Siam, differs only in having a slightly larger bill and longer wing.
Young birds have the abdomen white, and the malar stripe entirely
black or with a few red spots.
"If the Luzon record of this species is correct, and we can see no
reason for doubting it, the distribution of T. javensis within the
Philippines is very peculiar. Why should it disappear in Samar and
Leyte, to reappear in Cebu and Luzon? There is not the slightest doubt
as to the identity of the Cebu birds, of which we have a fine series.
"Three males from Sulu average, 400 in length; wing, 185; tail, 146;
culmen, 45; tarsus, 28; middle toe with claw, 39. Two females from
same place, length, 384; wing, 192; tail, 141; culmen, 42; tarsus,
28; middle toe with claw, 36.
"Cebu birds are slightly larger. Two males average, 403 in length;
wing, 204; tail, 158; culmen, 48; tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw,
41. Two females, length, 407; wing, 198; tail, 159; culmen, 45;
tarsus, 29; middle toe with claw, 37.
"Iris varies from light to dark yellow; legs and feet gray; nails
nearly black; upper mandible black, lower dirty white. Food,
ants." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)