Dusky Robin

SCI Name:  Melanodryas vittata
Protonym:  Muscicapa vittata Voy.AstrolabeZool. 1 p.173 AtlasOis. pl.3 fig.2
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Petroicidae / Melanodryas
Taxonomy Code:  dusrob1
Type Locality:  'le port du Roi-Georges, a la Nouvelle-Hollande''; error: Tasmania.
Author:  Quoy & Gaimard
Publish Year:  1830
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MELANODRYAS
(Petroicidae; Ϯ Hooded Robin M. cucullata) Gr. μελας melas, μελανος  melanos  black; δρυας druas, δρυαδος druados  dryad, tree-nymph  < δρυς drus, δρυος druos  oak-tree; "Genus MELANODRYAS, Gould.   For the Pied Robins, of which at least two species inhabit Australia, I propose the generic term of Melanodryas.  Sp. 168.  MELANODRYAS CUCULLATA.  HOODED ROBIN.   ...   The Melanodryas cucullata inhabits New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Swan River, but not Tasmania. It loves to dwell in the open parts of the country rather than in the thick brushes. I have always found it most numerous on such flats as were studded here and there with large trees, among the lower branches of which, as well as on the ground immediately beneath them, it might be observed darting about for insects in the most bold and active manner; the jet-black colouring of its upper surface, contrasted with the whiteness of the other parts, rendering it very conspicuous, particularly when its wings and tail are displayed to their full extent." (Gould 1865); "Melanodryas Gould, 1865, Handb. Birds Australia, 1, p. 283. Type, by monotypy, Muscicapa cucullata Latham." (Mayr in Peters 1986, XI, 562).
Synon. Amaurodryas.

vittata / vittatum / vittatus
L. vittatus banded, ribboned < vitta ribbon, band.
● ex “Perroquet de St.-Domingue” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 792, “Papegai à bandeau rouge” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Red-banded Parrot” of Latham 1783 (Amazona).
● ex “Grey-backed Shrike” of Latham 1821 (Lanius).
● ex “Petrel bleu” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Blue Peteril” of Cook 1777, “Vittated Petrel” of J. R. Forster 1777, 1778, and “Broad-billed Petrel” of Latham 17856 (Pachyptila).
● ex “Wreathed Tern” of Latham 1785 (Sterna).

SUBSPECIES

Dusky Robin (vittata)
SCI Name: Melanodryas vittata vittata
vittata / vittatum / vittatus
L. vittatus banded, ribboned < vitta ribbon, band.
● ex “Perroquet de St.-Domingue” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 792, “Papegai à bandeau rouge” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Red-banded Parrot” of Latham 1783 (Amazona).
● ex “Grey-backed Shrike” of Latham 1821 (Lanius).
● ex “Petrel bleu” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Blue Peteril” of Cook 1777, “Vittated Petrel” of J. R. Forster 1777, 1778, and “Broad-billed Petrel” of Latham 17856 (Pachyptila).
● ex “Wreathed Tern” of Latham 1785 (Sterna).

Dusky Robin (kingi)
SCI Name: Melanodryas vittata kingi
kingi / kingii
● Capt. James King (1750-1784) Royal Navy, explorer in the Pacific with Capt. Cook 1776-1779 (subsp. Acrocephalus familiaris).
● Rear-Adm. Phillip Parker King (1791-1856) Royal Navy, surveyor in Australia 1817-1822 and tropical America 1825-1830, collector (Aglaiocercus, syn. Larus pacificus, subsp. Oriolus flavocinctus, syn. Sephanoides sephaniodes, syn. Veniliornis lignarius).
● King I., Bass Strait, Australia (syn. Anthochaera paradoxa, syn. Colluricincla harmonica strigata, subsp. Melanodryas vittata, syn. Melithreptus validirostris, syn. Pardalotus striatus).
● Benjamin Francis King (b. 1937) US ornithologist, research associate at AMNH (subsp. Heterophasia desgodinsi).
● Sir George King (1840-1909) British botanist, first Superintendent of Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta 1871, initiated Botanical Survey of India (syn. Oenanthe chrysopygia).
● Harold Henry King (1885-1954) British government entomologist in the Sudan 1906-1932 (syn. Trachyphonus margaritatus).