Scaly-breasted Cupwing

SCI Name:  Pnoepyga albiventer
Protonym:  [Tesia] Albiventer J.Asiat.Soc.Bengal 6 p.102
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pnoepygidae / Pnoepyga
Taxonomy Code:  sbwbab1
Type Locality:  Nepal; restricted to eastern Nepal by Rand and Fleming, 1957, Fieldiana Zool. [Chicago], 41, p. 124; further restricted to Ham District by Ripley, 1961, Synopsis Birds India Pakistan, p. 357.
Author:  Hodgson
Publish Year:  1837
IUCN Status:  

DEFINITIONS

PNOEPYGA
(Pnoepygidae; † Scaly-breasted Cupwing P. albiventer) Gr. πνοη pnoē  blowing  < πνεω pneō  to breathe; πυγη pugē rump; "Pnoepyga (Tesia) concolor, [drawing no.] 847.    P. pusillus, [drawing no.] 870.  P. rufiventer, [drawing no.] 457.  P. albiventer, [drawing no.] 491." (Hodgson 1844); “Genus Pnoepyga (olim Tesia), mihi.  ...  wings very short, bowed, and perfectly rounded; tail rudimentary, consisting of only six plumes, which are hid by the puffy rump-feathers.  ...  Types, the following: — 1st species, albiventer (M. squamata, Gould, postea), mihi.” (Hodgson 1845); "Pnoepyga Hodgson, 1844, in J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc., no. 3, p. 82. Type, by subsequent designation (Zimmer and Vaurie, 1954, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 74, p. 41), Tesia albiventer Hodgson." (Deignan in Peters, 1964, X, p. 293).  The birds of this genus were formerly known as Wren Babblers.  Cupwing is an innovative modern creation which does not scan well; I suggest the substantive Dwarf-babbler.
Var. Proepygia (Gr. προε- proe-  before), Pneopyga, Propyga.
Synon. Microura.

albiventer / albiventre / albiventris
L. albus  white; venter, ventris  belly.
● ex “Drongri à Ventre Blanc” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 171 (syn. Dicrurus leucophaeus).
● ex “Martin-pêcheur de l’Île de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (Halcyon).
● ex “Hirondelle à ventre blanc de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 546, fig. 2 (Tachycineta).

SUBSPECIES

Scaly-breasted Cupwing (pallidior)
SCI Name: Pnoepyga albiventer pallidior
pallidior / pallidiora
L. pallidior, pallidioris  paler  < comp. pallidus  pale  < pallere  to be pale.

Scaly-breasted Cupwing (albiventer)
SCI Name: Pnoepyga albiventer albiventer
albiventer / albiventre / albiventris
L. albus  white; venter, ventris  belly.
● ex “Drongri à Ventre Blanc” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 171 (syn. Dicrurus leucophaeus).
● ex “Martin-pêcheur de l’Île de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (Halcyon).
● ex “Hirondelle à ventre blanc de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 546, fig. 2 (Tachycineta).