A Manual of Philippine Birds

by Richard C. McGregor

“Common in the scattering trees between the town of Sulu and the hills back of it. Found about flowering trees in Tawi Tawi. Bill of adult birds coal black.

“Seven males from Tawi Tawi measure, 148 in length; wing, 90; tail, 49; culmen, 14; tarsus, 10; middle toe with claw, 17. Six females from Sulu measure, length, 144; wing, 93; tail, 50; culmen, 13; tarsus, 11; middle toe with claw, 19. Iris black; legs and feet light to dark brown; nails black; bill black in adults, yellow in immature birds.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Order CORACIIFORMES.

FROGMOUTHS, ROLLERS, KINGFISHERS, HORNBILLS, BEEBIRDS, GOATSUCKERS, AND SWIFTS.

Claw of hind toe shorter than that of third toe; two toes united for their basal joint; or, if toes are free, then the feet small and weak and gape deeply cleft. Toes usually three in front, one behind; in some, two in front and one behind; rarely, four in front and in pairs. Bill large and with a horny crest, often bright red in color, when not red the surface more or less sculptured (Bucerotes); or, bill long, straight, tapering, and sharp, usually red or black (Halcyones); or, bill slender and gently curved, tail long (Meropes); or, bill stout, gape wide (Coraciæ and Podargi); or, bill minute and weak, gape wide and deeply cleft (Caprimulgi and Micropodii). This order is an extremely unsatisfactory one as its members have few external characters of ordinal value. The suborders Caprimulgi and Micropodii seem to be particularly out of place.

Suborders.

• a¹. Bill large and strong, or very broad at base, or long and sharp; culmen greater than tarsus.
  • b¹. Bill very large, crested, or sides plicated, or both; birds of large size. Bucerotes (p. [326])
  • b². Bill long or broad, neither crested not plicated.
    • c¹. Bill long and tapering to a sharp point.
      • d¹. Middle tail-feathers not greatly prolonged; culmen straight or nearly so. Halcyones (p. [303])
      • d². Middle tail-feathers greatly prolonged; culmen gently decurved for its entire length. Meropes (p. [339])
    • c². Bill short and wide; width at base more than half of culmen.
      • d¹. Nostrils exposed; colors black, blue, and bluish green in large masses. Coraciæ (p. [301])
      • d². Nostrils hidden by stiff feathers; colors white, blackish brown, and rufous-brown in spots and vermiculations. Podargi (p. [296])
• a². Bill small and weak, deeply cleft; culmen much less than tarsus (except in Hemiprocne).
  • b¹. Wings when folded not reaching tip of tail; wings mottled and spotted with black and shades of reddish brown. Caprimulgi (p. [342])
  • b². Wings when folded reaching beyond tip of tail; wings blackish or steel-blue, never mottled nor spotted. Micropodii (p. [350])

Suborder PODARGI.

Family PODARGIDÆ.