Eurylamus steerii Sharpe, Nature (1876), 14, 297.
Sarcophanops steerii Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1877), 1, 344,
pl. 54; Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 462; Bourns and
Worcester, Occ. Papers Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. (1804), 1, 53;
Hartert, Genera Avium, Eurylæmidæ (1905), 6, pl. 1, fig. 6 (head).
Sarcophanops steerei Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 2; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester,
McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Platen,
Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult male.--Forehead and crown deep purple; a few spots of scarlet
on occiput, not always present; feathers at base of bill with white
bases; lores black; a white collar around neck; hind neck, back,
and scapulars slate-gray; rump and tail-coverts chestnut, tipped
with purple; tail chestnut; chin, throat, and sides of head black;
breast, abdomen, and sides lilac, bases of the feathers white; middle
of abdomen white; under tail-coverts white, tinged with lilac; thighs
blackish gray; wings black; edge of wing and of first primary white;
a distinct bar of golden yellow on secondaries, changing to white
on inner secondaries; wing-lining black, axillars white. A male from
Basilan measures: Wing, 85; tail, 64; culmen from base, 22; bill from
nostril, 14; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22.
Adult female.--Similar, but under parts pure white except the black
chin and throat and gray thighs. A female from Basilan measures:
Wing, 86; tail, 64; culmen from base, 23; bill from nostril, 15;
tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 21.
"There has been some difference of opinion between Dr. Steere
and Mr. Everett as to the color of the eyes of this interesting
species. Both were right and there was abundant room for still more
divergence of opinion. The eyes of S. steerii are golden yellow, bright
green, or a beautiful blue according to the way the light strikes them.
"The young show some interesting plumage changes. An immature male has
the under surface white, some of the feathers tipped with pale lilac;
chin black but throat white, a few black feathers just appearing;
head as in adult but white nuchal collar much narrower; back and
wing-coverts washed with olive-green, the wing-bar being ill-defined
and paler than in adult; rump and tail as in adult. Bill as in adult
except center of upper mandible which is black.
"Another young male, slightly older, has chin and throat black,
the feathers narrowly tipped with white and shows more lilac on
breast. Crown, nape, and back washed with olive-green, purple appearing
on one or two feathers of forehead. Bill pure black.
"A young female is like the first young male described but without
lilac on under surface." (Bourns and Worcester.)
"Usually found in deep woods in small flocks; once seen in a mangrove
swamp close to the sea. It usually takes short flights, making a
loud whir with its wings, and sits perfectly still for some time
after. When perched on a limb, it has a curious habit of snapping
its bill which produces a sound audible for some distance. Its food
consists of insects which it holds in its bill and raps several times
on a limb before swallowing. Its note is a plaintive whistle and it
may be readily decoyed by imitating its call. At the discharge of a
gun it does not fly away but sits perfectly still.
"Iris blue, green, or golden according to the light; bill, legs, feet,
and eye-wattle light blue; nails nearly white. Ten males from Basilan
average: Length, 174; wing, 84; tail, 60; culmen, 24; tarsus, 22;
middle toe with claw, 25. Ten females average: Length, 172; wing, 85;
tail, 87; culmen, 24; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 24." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)