Macronus mindanensis Steere, List Birds and Mams. Steere
Exped. (1890), 17; Grant and Whitehead, Ibis (1898), 240 (eggs);
Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 223 (habits); Sharpe, Hand-List (1903),
4, 54; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 82.
Bohol (McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp.,
Whitehead); Mindanao (Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp.,
Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino, Clemens); Samar
(Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
Adult.--Similar to Macronous striaticeps, but throat, breast, and
sides of head washed with ocherous buff or fulvous giving these parts
a soiled appearance. A male from Bohol measures: Wing, 60; tail, 53;
culmen from base, 16; bill from nostril, 10; tarsus, 20. A female from
Bohol, wing, 59; tail, 53; culmen from base, 15; bill from nostril,
9; tarsus, 19.
"Common in Mindanao and Samar. Habits exactly like those of
M. striaticeps. Four males average: Length, 144; wing, 60; tail, 56;
culmen, 16.5; tarsus, 18.5; middle toe with claw, 19. Four females,
length, 135; wing, 55; tail, 54; culmen, 14.7; tarsus, 19; middle toe
with claw, 18.5. Iris light yellow-white; legs, feet, and nails drab;
bill nearly black, the lower mandible slightly lighter than upper.
"It is remarkable that the differences between M. striaticeps and
M. mindanensis should have escaped the notice of naturalists until
they were pointed out by Doctor Steere. The two species are quite
distinct, and can be distinguished with absolute certainty." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)
"Mr. Whitehead found a nest of this species [near Paranas, Samar,
June 15, 1896] containing three eggs. These were in such an advanced
stage of incubation that the young birds hatched out a few hours
after the eggs were placed in his room. Eggs pure white, thickly
speckled towards the larger end with dark red. The nest, a large
ball of bamboo leaves and loosely constructed, was placed close to
the ground in old forest." (Grant and Whitehead.)