The Avifauna of Micronesia, Its Origin, Evolution, and Distribution

by Rollin H. Baker

Rhipidura rufifrons mariae R. H. Baker, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 59, 1946, p. 7. (Type locality, Rota.)

Rhipidura rufifrons saipanensis Takatsukasa and Yamashina, Dobutsu. Zasshi, 44, 1932, p. 222 (Rota); Hand-list Japanese Birds (part), rev., 1932, p. 176 (Rota); Hand-list Japanese Birds (part), 3d ed., 1942, p. 195 (Rota); Mayr (part), Birds Southwest Pacific, 1945, p. 295 (Rota); Mayr and Moynihan (part), Amer. Mus. Novit., no. 1321, 1946, p. 3 (Rota).

Rhipidura rufifrons mariae Baker, Smithson. Misc. Coll., vol. 107, no. 15, 1948, p. 68 (Rota).

Geographic range.—Micronesia: Mariana Islands—Rota.

Characters.—Adult: Resembles adult of R. r. saipanensis, but with richer brown coloring on the breast and abdomen; darker above, especially the forehead, rump, and basal part of tail; chin with small mount of white; malar line of white thinner.

Measurements.—Measurements are listed in [table 38].

Weights.—Baker (1946:78) records the weights of two adult males from Rota as 8.3 and 9.0 grams.

Specimens examined.—Total number, 2 males, from Mariana Islands, USNM—Rota (Oct. 22).

Remarks.—Takatsukasa and Yamashina (1932:222) published the first account of the fantail from Rota although Coultas (field notes) obtained a report of its presence at Rota in 1931. The NAMRU2 party obtained the two specimens studied, and reported that the birds were numerous in the forested areas of Rota in 1945.