“Female.—Differs from the adult male in being white below, without the gray throat, although indications of the latter are generally seen in the grayish shade more or less observable on the lower throat and sides of breast. The cinnamon-color of the chin is also difficult to trace, being so faintly pronounced.
“Young.—General color above olive-brown; quills brown, externally washed with olive-green; tail brown, tipped obscurely with whity brown, with a subterminal shade of black, scarcely forming a spot; ear-coverts pale rufescent; under surface of body dull yellowish white, the thighs obscure fawn-color; center of the body pale yellowish, the sides of the breast and flanks obscurely washed with greenish.” (Sharpe.)
561. ORTHOTOMUS CINEREICEPS Sharpe.
ASHY-HEADED TAILORBIRD.
- Orthotomus cinereiceps Sharpe, Ibis (1877), 113, pl. 2, fig. 2; Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 337; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1883), 7, 222; Hand-List (1903), 4, 192; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 88.
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester).
Adult.—Entire top of head, lores, and hind neck dark ashy gray; a large white patch on ear-coverts; remainder of upper parts olive-green, lighter on tail-coverts; wing-feathers blackish, edged with green; rectrices olive-brown, edged with green; cheeks, chin, and throat black; fore breast ashy gray; center of lower breast and abdomen white; sides, flanks, thighs, and crissum washed with yellow. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 47; tail, 55; culmen from base, 16.5; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 21.
Young.—The immature bird resembles the corresponding plumage in O. nigriceps, having more or less white on the chin and throat.
“Very common in Basilan. Eight from Basilan measure: Length, 126; wing, 47; tail, 76; culmen, 18.5; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 17.5. Six females, length, 111; wing, 45; tail, 41; tarsus, 19.5; middle toe with claw, 16. Iris brown; legs, feet, and nails very light brown, in some cases almost white; upper mandible nearly white, lower very light brown. Breeding in Basilan in August.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)