Mixornis capitalis Tweeddale, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (1877),
20, 535; Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 110, pl. 7, fig. 2; Sharpe,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1883), 7, 582.
Zosterornis capitalis Grant, Ibis, (1897), 233, (key to species);
Sharpe, Hand-List (1903), 4, 51; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 82.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor);
Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Everett); Mindanao (Platen, Goodfellow,
Celestino); Panaon (Everett).
Adult (male and female).--Forehead and crown rufous-chestnut or
reddish auburn, some of the feathers with yellowish shaft-stripes;
occiput, back, and lesser and median wing-coverts dark brown with
pale yellow shaft-stripes; rump and tail-coverts slightly olivaceous
and without shaft-stripes; lores, ear-coverts, and cheeks ashy with
whitish shaft-stripes; chin and throat chestnut, washed with light
yellow; remainder of under parts very pale yellow; sides and flanks
gray; wings brown, the outer webs edged with lighter brown, inner webs
edged with white; rectrices brown, all but the middle pair tipped with
white which increases on each pair toward the outermost, the outer webs
of which are entirely white. A male from Mindanao measures: Length,
147; wing, 69; tail, 60; culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril,
10; tarsus, 18. A female, wing, 67; tail, 60; culmen from base, 15;
bill from nostril, 9.5; tarsus, 18.5.
"Not uncommon in the deep forest of Basilan, where it is usually found
in company with Macronous, Hypothymis, and other birds. Seventeen
males average: Length, 143; wing, 67; tail, 61; culmen, 18; tarsus,
17; middle toe with claw, 16. Eleven females, length, 141; wing,
67; tail, 60; tarsus, 18; middle toe with claw, 16; culmen, 16. Iris
reddish brown; legs and feet drab, with a greenish tinge; feet and
nails yellowish; bill almost black." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)