Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler

SCI Name:  Pomatorhinus ruficollis
Protonym:  [Pomatorhinus] Ruficollis As.Res. 19 p.182
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Timaliidae / Pomatorhinus
Taxonomy Code:  sbsbab3
Type Locality:  Nepal.
Author:  Hodgson
Publish Year:  1836
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

POMATORHINUS
(Timaliidae; Ϯ Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler P. montanus) Gr. πωμα pōma, πωματος pōmatos  lid, cover; ῥις rhis, ῥινος rhinos  nostrils; “Gen. 32.  POMATORHINUS.   Rostrum longiusculum, basi rectum, ultra nares modici incurvum et abruptius compressum, mesorhinio elevato: culmine validiusculo, carinato, apice integro.  Nares operculo corneo oblongo convexo clausæ, apertura oblique postice spectans, juxta capistrum fornicata.  Alæ rotundatæ. Remiges: 1 et 2 abrupte, 3 et 4 gradatim increscentes, 3-7 externe tenuiter emarginatæ.  Cauda rotundata, elongata.  Pedes subelongati. Digitus medius longior, cum exteriore basi leviter connexus. Ungues compressi, arcuati, posteriore majore, validiore.  Acropodia scutulata; acrotarsia obscurior.   The corneous covering of the nares and its sudden compression and equal breadth beyond these form the distinguishing character of this genus, in which it differs both from the two following genera [Prinia, Orthotomus], and from that extensive group which comprises Certhia, Nectarinia and Cinnyris. The prominent, rounded and very gradually attenuated back or culmen is also peculiar to this genus.   Spec. 1.  Pomatorhinus montanus.  ...  Bokkrek, Javanis.” (Horsfield 1821); "Pomatorhinus Horsfield, 1821, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 13, p. 164. Type, by monotypy, Pomatorhinus montanus Horsfield." (Deignan in Peters 1964, X, 266).
Var. Pomathorinus, Pomathorhinus, Pomathorrhinus, Pomatorrhinus.
Synon. Xiphirhynchus, Xiphorhamphus.

pomatorhinus
Gr. πωμα pōma, πωματος pōmatos  lid, cover; ῥις rhis, ῥινος rhinos  nostrils.
● See: pomarinus

ruficollis
Mod. L. ruficollis  red-necked, rufous-necked  < L. rufus  red, ruddy, rufous; Mod. L. -collis  -necked, -throated  < L. collum  neck.
● ex “Black-bellied Gallinule” of Latham 1785 (syn. Aramides cajanea).
● ex “Rufous-throated Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Euneornis campestris).
● ex “Pica flores pecho de cañela” and “Pica flores pecho de topacio” of de Azara 1802-1805, nos. 290, 291 (syn. Hylocharis chrysura).
● ex "Cola aguda cola de canela obscura" of de Azara, no. 240 (syn. Phacellodomus sibilatrix).
● ex “Red-necked Grebe” of Latham 1785 (syn. Podiceps grisegena).
● ex “Rufous-throated Tanager” of Latham 1785 (subsp. Pyrrhulagra violacea).
● ex “Fringilla ruficollis” of Lichtenstein MS (syn. Sporophila ruficollis).

SUBSPECIES

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (ruficollis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis ruficollis
ruficollis
Mod. L. ruficollis  red-necked, rufous-necked  < L. rufus  red, ruddy, rufous; Mod. L. -collis  -necked, -throated  < L. collum  neck.
● ex “Black-bellied Gallinule” of Latham 1785 (syn. Aramides cajanea).
● ex “Rufous-throated Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Euneornis campestris).
● ex “Pica flores pecho de cañela” and “Pica flores pecho de topacio” of de Azara 1802-1805, nos. 290, 291 (syn. Hylocharis chrysura).
● ex "Cola aguda cola de canela obscura" of de Azara, no. 240 (syn. Phacellodomus sibilatrix).
● ex “Red-necked Grebe” of Latham 1785 (syn. Podiceps grisegena).
● ex “Rufous-throated Tanager” of Latham 1785 (subsp. Pyrrhulagra violacea).
● ex “Fringilla ruficollis” of Lichtenstein MS (syn. Sporophila ruficollis).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (godwini)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis godwini
godwini
Lt.-Col. Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen (1834-1923) British Army surveyor who gave his name to the Himalayan peak Mt. Godwin-Austen or K2 (subsp. Pomatorhinus ruficollis, subsp. Trochalopteron chrysopterum).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (bakeri)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis bakeri
bakeri
● Edward Charles Stuart Baker (1864-1944) British ornithologist, oologist, collector, Indian Police 1883-1912 (subsp. Cuculus canorus, syn. Garrulax monileger stuarti, subsp. Liocichla phoenicea, syn. Lonchura malacca (ex Munia malacca orientalis Baker, 1925), subsp. Napothera epilepidota, syn. Pericrocotus flammeus fraterculus, subsp. Polyplectron bicalcaratum, subsp. Pomatorhinus ruficollis, Psittiparus, syn. Thalasseus bergii velox, subsp. Tachymarptis melba, syn. Turdinus macrodactylus, Yuhina, subsp. Zapornia fusca).
● Dr John Randal Baker (1900-1984) British scientist, cytologist, collector in the New Hebrides 1922-1923, 1927 (Ducula).
● Dr Allan John Baker (1943-2014) New Zealand/Canadian ornithologist (subsp. Fringilla coelebs).
● George Fisher Baker, Jr. (1878-1937) US banker, collector, trustee of the AMNH (Sericulus).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (bhamoensis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis bhamoensis
bhamoense / bhamoensis
Bhamo District, Kachin, Burma / Myanmar.

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (similis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis similis
simile / similis
L. similis, simile  similar, resembling.  Indicating a similarity in appearance or affinity to another, usually congeneric, species.  Over thirty forms share this epithet; some are shown below.
● "193.—A. similis.—New species?—Large Titlark.   Descr.—The description of the last species [A. rufula] will apply exactly to this very similar bird, with this exception, that the centre markings of the feathers are still more indistinct in this one; and that the fawn colour of the plumage beneath, extends over all the abdomen, vent, and under tail coverts.  It differs, however, remarkably in size and in some points of structure." (Jerdon 1840) (Anthus).
● "PTILOTIS PROCERIOR, F. & H., is unknown in Taviuni; and its place is supplied by a species that I at first took for P. carunculata, Gmel.  But the more I look at it, the more I doubt its identity with that bird; without actual comparisons, however, with specimens from Tonga, which is, I believe, the real habitat of P. carunculata, I cannot quite decide the point.  Measurements go for little in this species, hardly two individuals agreeing together; but not a single specimen we procured has the bill as short as 8'", the maximum quoted by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub.  Then, again, they describe the iris as "white," and so figure it; in ours they are all buff, a darker shade prevailing.  The wattle is very different from that of P. procerior, but hardly resembles that figured by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub.  If found distinct on actual comparison, I would name it P. similis.  I would call it after the island, of the birds of which I now write; but I possess some specimens from Bua and Mathuata islands  which are identical." (Layard 1876) (syn. Foulehaio taviunensis).
● "32. LE PIC SEMBLABLE.  (Picus similis, Lesson.)  ...  Celui que nous décrivons ici, et que nous adressons à M. Malherbe, pour sa belle Monographie des pics, ressemble singulièrement au lineatus, à l'erythrocephalus et à l'anaïs, et cependant, en le comparant à ces trois espèces, il offre des dissemblances."  (Lesson 1847) (subsp. Hylatomus lineatus).
● "9.  Chloropeta similis, new species.  ...  Its nearest relative appears to be C. icterina, but from this it differs in the wing formula, in smaller size, and apparently in the color of the thighs and upper parts." (Richmond 1897) (Iduna).
● "MONASA SIMILIS, new species. Cerro Azul Nun Bird.  ...  In general coloration very similar to M. fidelis from the same locality but immediately distinguishable by absence of white on chin, this color being confined to a band about base of upper mandible extending to lores as in pallescens" (Nelson 1912) (syn. Monasa morphoeus fidelis).
● "SPECIES 14.  MUSCICAPA SIMILIS.  TAB. XXV.   Mediocris, supra olivaceo-fusca, subtus sulphurea, Muscicapae cayennensi simillima, diversa vero rostro brevi, capite non nigro sed fusco, verticeque non flavo sed aurantio." (von Spix 1825) (Myiozetetes).
● "PETROICA SIMILIS.  ...  Very like Petroica pusilla of Peale, from Navigators' Islands, but it is larger (being 4½" in length), with the throat varied with white, scarlet, and fuscous-black; the outer tail-feathers white, with a blackish spot near the apex, and the outer margin only of the second feather white.   New Hebrides (Aneiteum)." (G. Gray 1860) (subsp. Petroica pusilla).
● "5. S. similis, Nob.  ...   differt a Tanagra magna, Gmel., Saltatore olivaceo, Vieillot, t. 4, p. 108, cui affinis tergo caudaque non viridibus, vitta superciliari post oculum ad nucham protensa, in Tanagra magna, ante oculari tantummodo juguloque non ferrugineo." (de La Fresnaye & d'Orbigny 1837) (Saltator).  

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (albipectus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis albipectus
albipectus
L. albus  white; pectus, pectoris  breast.

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (beaulieui)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis beaulieui
beaulieu / beaulieui
Louis Henri André David-Beaulieu (1896-1969) French colonial administrator in Indochina, ornithologist (subsp. Lophura nycthemera, subsp. Mirafra javanica, subsp. Pomatorhinus ruficollis, subsp. Suthora nipalensis).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (laurentei)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis laurentei
laurentei / laurentii
Ernest Paul Laurente (born Laurent) (1892-1968) RAF, consular official, Customs Officer in southern Yunnan, China, collector (Martin Schneider and Paul Scofield in litt.) (syn. Brachypteryx montana cruralis, subsp. Cyornis poliogenys, syn. Elachura formosa (Björn Bergenholtz in litt.), subsp. Hemitesia pallidipes, subsp. Phylloscopus castaniceps, subsp. Pomatorhinus ruficollis, syn. Psilopogon asiaticus davisoni).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (reconditus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis reconditus
recondita / reconditus
L. reconditus concealed, mysterious < recondere to put away.

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (stridulus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis stridulus
stridula / stridulum / stridulus
L. stridulus  hissing, whistling  < stridere  to make a harsh noise.
● "42. STRIX.  ...  stridula.  9. S. capite lævi, corpore ferrugineo, remige tertia longiore. Fn. svec. 55.  Strix. Aldr. ornith. 561. t. 563. Will. ornith. 65. Raj. av. 25.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (syn. Strix aluco).

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (hunanensis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis hunanensis
hunanensis
Hunan, China.

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (eidos)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis eidos
eidos
Gr. ειδος eidos  likeness, appearance, species, shape, form  < ειδω eidō  to resemble. This word is the basis of the common suffix -οιδης -oidēs, indicating resemblance, found throughout nomenclature.

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (nigrostellatus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus ruficollis nigrostellatus
nigrostellatus
L. niger  black; stellatus  set with stars, starry, glittering  < stella  star.