“It is evident from the molting specimens in the collection that the black markings are acquired first, and that the rufous-color overspreads the plumage afterwards. Great variation in the amount of the nuptial decoration is seen in the series, and sometimes very old individuals have the abdomen, and even the under tail-coverts, barred.” (Sharpe.)
The black-tailed godwit is extremely rare in the Philippines, the only specimens examined by me being two killed near Manila, in February, 1908.
Genus TOTANUS Bechstein, 1803.
Culmen straight, equal to tarsus; secondaries and rump white.
105. TOTANUS EURHINUS (Oberholser).
ASIATIC REDSHANK.
- Totanus calidris Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1896), 24, 414 (part); Hand-List (1899), 1, 160 (part); Oates, Cat. Birds’ Eggs (1902), 2, 43 (part).
- Totanus totanus eurhinus Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. (1900), 22, 207.
- Totanus eurhinus McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 25.
Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Cebu (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cuyo (McGregor); Mindanao (Mearns); Mindoro (Porter); Negros (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Platen, Whitehead); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester). Central and eastern Asia, south in winter to Malay Archipelago.
“Male.—Above rufescent broccoli-brown, the feathers everywhere with dark brown centers, the back more or less irregularly barred with the same; rump pure white, sparingly marked with brownish; tail and upper tail-coverts dull white, heavily barred with sepia-brown, the terminal portion of central tail-feathers buffy; wings fuscous, the innermost secondaries like the back and barred on exposed portions with dark brown; remainder of secondaries white, but pale brown on concealed bases; greater coverts white or grayish distally, brownish gray basally, and barred with sepia; median coverts brownish gray, barred with sepia; lesser coverts almost plain; lower surface white, more or less heavily marked throughout with sepia, these markings taking on throat and breast the form of broad streaks, on flanks, sides, and crissum of bars, and elsewhere of more or less irregular spots; lining of wing white, varied with brownish, except on axillars. ‘Length of male, 292; of female, 298; bill black, orange-brown at base beneath; iris dark brown; feet orange-red; claws black.’ (Abbott.)
“The form of Totanus totanus inhabiting Central and Eastern Asia, although seemingly identical with the European bird in color and markings, is yet so much larger, particularly in length of wing, tail, and culmen, that its separation as a subspecies appears to be warranted.” (Oberholser.)