Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

SCI Name:  Agriornis montanus
Protonym:  P[epoaza] Montana Mag.Zool. 7 cl.2 p.64
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Tyrannidae / Agriornis
Taxonomy Code:  bkbsht1
Type Locality:  Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia.
Author:  d''Orbigny & Lafresnaye
Publish Year:  1837
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

AGRIORNIS
(Tyrannidae; † Grey-bellied Shrike Tyrant A. micropterus) Gr. αγριος agrios  fierce; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "Birds Pl. 12.  Agriornis micropterus.   ...   Birds Pl. 13.  Agriornis leucurus." (Gould in Darwin 1839 (January)); “GENUS. — AGRIORNIS. Gould.  Tyrannus, Eyd. & Gerv.  Pepoaza, D'Orb. & Lafr.   ...  Mr. Gould observes that the members of this genus are remarkable for their robust form and for their strength and magnitude of their bills; and their habits strictly accord with their structure, as they are fierce and courageous.   ...   1. AGRIORNIS GUTTURALIS. Gould.  ...  My specimens were obtained near Valparaiso in Chile.  I saw it as far north as the valley of Copiapó.  I was assured by the inhabitants that it is a very fierce bird, and that it will attack and kill the young of other birds.    2. AGRIORNIS STRIATUS. Gould.  ...   3. AGRIORNIS MICROPTERUS. Gould.  ...   4. AGRIORNIS MARITIMUS. G. R. Gray.  ...  Agriornis leucurus.  Gould's MSS., and on Pl. xiii.” (Gould in Darwin 1839 (July)); "Agriornis GOULD in Darwin, Zool. Beagle, 3, Part 6, pl. 12, 13, Jan. 1839— type (present designation ^a) Agriornis micropterus GOULD.  ...  ^a Gray's action (Cat. Gen. Subgen. Birds, p. 41, 1855) in selecting "Tyrannus" lividus KITTLITZ as genotype is invalid, since the genus as originally proposed in January 1839, contained only A. micropterus and A. leucurus.  The corresponding section of the letter press of the Zoology of the Beagle (pp. 33-56) was not published until July 1839." (Hellmayr, 1927, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. V, 1); "Agriornis Gould, in Darwin, 1839, Zool. Beagle, pt. 3, Birds, pls. 12, 13.  Type, by subsequent designation (Hellmayr, 1927, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 13, pt. 5, p. 1), Agriornis micropterus Gould." (Traylor in Peters, 1979, VIII, p. 165).
Synon. Tamnolanius.

montanum / montanus
L. montanus  found on mountains, mountain-, mountaineer  < mons, montis  mountain.
● “We saw abundance of these birds in the mountainous Countries of Stiria and Carinthia, as we travelled from Vienna to Venice” (Ray 1678); "98. FRINGILLA.  ...  montana.  28. F. remigibus rectricibusque fuscis, corpore griseo nigroque, alarum fascia alba gemina.  Passer montanus. Aldr. orn. t. 15. c. 15. Olin. av. 46. Raj, av. 87.  Habitat in Europa.  Simillima Fr. domesticæ sed minor & fascia duplex in alarum tegetibus alba s. tectrices alarum primi secundique ordinis albi, at in F. domestica tantum secundi." (Linnaeus 1758) (Passer).
● Montana, USA (subsp. Junco oreganus).
● Montana Sierra, Valle, Venezuela (syn. Megascops choliba crucigerus).
● ex “Braunes Feldhuhn” of Frisch 1733-1763, “Perdix montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Perdrix de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 136, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Perdix perdix).
● ex “Merula montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Merle de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 182 (syn. Turdus torquatus).

SUBSPECIES

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (solitarius)
SCI Name: Agriornis montanus solitarius
solitaria / solitaris / solitarius
L. solitarius  solitary  < solus, solius  alone.
● According to Fraser in P. Sclater 1859a, the Solitary Shrike Tyrant was called “el Solitario” by the Spanish settlers of Ecuador (Agriornis).
● ex “Coucou Solitaire” of Levaillant 1806, pl. 206 (Cuculus).
● ex “Green-headed Bunting” of Latham 1785 (syn. Emberiza hortulana).
● “Solitary Sparrow  ...  It is wont to sit alone on the tops of ancient Edifices and Roofs of Churches, singing most sweetly, especially in the Morning, whence it took its name” (Ray 1678); "95. TURDUS.  ...  solitarius.  14. T. cæruleus, remigibus rectricibusque nigris, abdomine lineolis cinereis undulato.  Passer solitarius. Willugb. orn. 191. Raj. av. 66. Edw. av. 18. t. 18. Olin. av. 14. Act. Ups. 1750. p. 21.  Habitat in Oriente.  Mas cæruleus; Femina cinerea, subtus lineolis albis & cinereis undulata." (Linnaeus 1758) (Monticola).
● (Statius Müller 1776) ex “Merle solitaire de Manille” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 564, fig. 2 (syn. Monticola solitarius philippensis).
● (J. Gmelin 1789) ex “Passera solitaria” of Olina 1622, “Solitary Sparrow” of Willughby 1676, “Passer solitarius” of Ray 1713, “Merula solitaria” of Brisson 1760, “Merle solitaire” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Solitary Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Monticola solitarius).
● ex “Suirirí chorreado todo” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 196 (Myiodynastes).
● ex “Solitaire” of Leguat 1708, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Solitary Dodo” of Latham 1785: “not met with in flocks, scarcely more than two being found together” (‡Pezophaps).
● ex “Solitary Parrot” of Latham 1787 (Phigys).
● ex “Japú negro” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 58 (Procacicus).
● ex “Oiseau Solitaire” of Carré 1669, and “Solitaire” of Dubois 1674 (this bird was formerly thought to be a species of dodo Raphus) (‡Threskiornis).
● ex “Ynambú Mocoicogoé” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 332 (Tinamus).
● "This new species inhabits the watery solitudes of our highest mountains during the summer, from Kentucky to New York" (A. Wilson 1813) (Tringa).

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (insolens)
SCI Name: Agriornis montanus insolens
insolens
L. insolens, insolentis  unusual, excessive, arrogant, impertinent, haughty  < in-  not; solens, solentis  accustomed, habituated  < solere  to be accustomed.

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (intermedius)
SCI Name: Agriornis montanus intermedius
intermedea / intermedia / intermedianus / intermedium / intermedius
L. intermedius  intermediate, that is between (cf. Late L. intermedium  intervention, between two others; Med. L. intermedium  interval).  These epithets are common in ornithology, highlighting forms considered to have intermediate plumage, size, distribution, etc.; only a few are shown below.
• “Genus Ardea.   ...   A. intermedia.  ...  Habitat in insula Java.  Simillima habitu ac colore Ardeae flavirostri, eadem dimidio fere minor.” (Wagler 1829) (Ardea).
• "73.  Coracina papuensis papuensis Gm.   ...   The birds from the Snow Mts. are exactly intermediate between C. p. papuensis from N. W. New Guinea and C. p. meekiana from S. E. New Guinea; so I propose to call the race found on the south side of the Central Range.   Coracina papuensis intermedia subsp. nov." (Rothschild 1931) (subsp. Coracina papuensis).
• "Ce tinamou présente, comme nous l'avons dit, des caractères de transition entre Calopezus elegans et Calopezus formosus.  Cette nouvelle espèce, ou peut-être race intermédiaire, qui paraît localisée dans les régions montagneuses du Nord-ouest de la République Argentine, nous la distinguerons avec le nom de:  Calopezus intermedius n. sp.   ...   Il est possible que Calopezus intermedius et Calopezus formosus représentent seulement des formes géographiques de Calopezus elegans" (Dabbene & Lillo 1913) ( subsp. Eudromia elegans).
• "Formicivora   ...   F. grisea  ...  Kommt in Brasilien, Cayenne und Guiana vor.   ...   F. rufatra  ...  Vaterland: Brasilien und Bolivien.   ...   F. intermedia.  ...  Vaterland: Columbien" (Cabanis 1847) (Formicivora).
• "Falco pondicerianus apud Horsfield is a race intermediate to Haliastur indus of India proper and H. leucosternum of Australia, having dark central streaks to the white portion of the plumage, but considerably less developed than (constantly) in the Indian bird..  ...  Of very many examples of the Indian race examined or beheld close, I certainly have never seen one that had the dark streaks or lines so little developed as in the Javanese bird, or most assuredly I should have remarked it.  To what extent the Indian and Australian races may thus grade into each other, in other intermediate localities, remains to be ascertained.  ...  Mr. Gurney informs me that he thinks the Javanese race should be distinguished by the name intermedius." (Blyth 1865) (subsp. Haliastur indus).
• "Then we have in Tenasserim, most abundant in the hills, but extending in the cold weather to the sea-board and the plains of Pegu, a race of melaschistus, which I will, for convenience sake, denominate VOLVOCIVORA  INTERMEDIA.  It is very close to melaschistus, and as such I originally identified it, but with 24 specimens before me I find that sex being ascertained no specimen of it can be mistaken for a specimen of the corresponding sex of melaschistus, but it is much the same size, and the old males are nearly as possible the same colour as the females of melaschistus.  ...  I am very doubtful whether this should be considered a subspecies or not, but it is a very distinguishable and perfectly constant race, and not one single specimen of true melaschistus has occurred to us throughout the region in which it is so abundant, and it may be best therefore to characterize it by a distinct name." (Hume 1877) (subsp. Lalage melaschistos).
• "5.  SETOPHAGA  INTERMEDIA, Nob.  ...  Espèce typique intermédiaire entre la S. vulnerata et la S. verticalis, Lafresn.  Elle diffère de la première par un bec plus grand et plus large, par la gorge cendrée, par le coloris de la queue, par la couleur de l'abdomen; la S. verticalis, Lafr. est jaune d'œuf en dessous." (Hartlaub 1852) (subsp. Myioborus miniatus).
• "3. CRYPTOLOPHA  INTERMEDIA  La Touche, sp. n.   Near C. tephrocephala (Anders.) and C. affinis (Hodgs.).  Differs from the former in having a much shorter bill, and the secondary coverts distinctly tipped with pale yellow, forming a well-marked bar; from C. affinis it differs in having a ring of feathers round the eye, yellow." (La Touche 1898) (Phylloscopus).
• “728. —  Pipreola viridis intermedia  ...  Forme intermédiaire entre la P. viridis de la Bolivie et la P. melanolæma de l’Ecuador, plus voisine de la dernière.” (Taczanowski 1884) (Pipreola).
• "Ploceus intermedius.  Sehr nahe mit meinem Ploceus larvatus verwandte Art.  Vorderkopf bis über den hintern Augenwinkel, Kehle, Oberhals und Ohrengegend schwarz, Hinterkopf und Nacken röthlich braungelb.  Mitte der Brust orangengelb, Seiten des Halses und Unterkörpers citrongelb.  Rücken gelbgrün, gegen den Schwanz hin citronengelb." (Rüppell 1845) (Ploceus).
• “This species is somewhat intermediate between Palaeornis schisticeps and P. cyanocephala in size and coloration, but is nearer P. schisticeps” (Rothschild 1895) (syn. Psittacula cyanocephala x Psittacula himalayana).
• "RHIPIDURA  INTERMEDIA, sp. nov.  ...  Dr. Sharpe's description of Rhipidura rufifrons in the "Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum," vol. iv., p. 319 (1879), evidently applies to this species, for he describes the tail feathers as being "distinctly tipped with white."  The type of Rhipidura rufifrons characterized by Dr. Latham, was obtained in New South Wales, and has the tips of the tail feathers pale brown, not white.  In the latter respect Rhipidura intermedia agrees with R. torrida, described and figured (Proc. Zool. Soc., 1865, p. 477, pl. xxviii.) by Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, from the island of Ternate, but R. torrida differs from R. intermedia in having the ear-coverts and upper breast black." (North 1902) (subsp. Rhipidura rufifrons).
• "Sp. intermedia n. sp.  ... Der [Sp.] hypoleuca im Schnabel und der ganzen Gestalt äusserst ähnlich, nur etwas kleiner, von dieser durch die nicht weisse, sondern graue Färbung der Kehle und Brust verschieden, mithin fast ganz so gefärbt wie Sp. plumbea, von welcher intermedia sich nur unterscheidet durch den grössern Schnabel und die kürzeren abgerundeteren, daher nicht so zugespitzten Flügel; auch sind Kehle und Brust etwas dunkler als in plumbea und fehlt das weisse Fleckchen an der Wurzel des Unterkiefers; der weisse Spiegel auf dem Flügel ist kleiner und versteckter" (Cabanis 1851) (Sporophila).
• "Thamnistes anabatinus intermedius subsp. nov.  ...  This form, based on but one specimen, is clearly an intermediate between T. æquatorialis of eastern Ecuador and southeastern Colombia, and the quite different T. anabatinus group of Panama to Mexico.  Its crown and back closely agree in color with those of æquatorialis while the underparts are similar to those of T. a. coronatus; the tail and wings externally are intermediate but nearer to those of coronatus." (Chapman 1914) (subsp. Thamnistes anabatinus).
• "33.  Thamnophilus intermedius, sp. nov.   SP. CHAR.—Adult male: Similar to that of T. nigricristatus LAWR., but bill larger, and feathers of crest largely white in middle portion; adult female similar to that of T. doliatus, but with larger bill." (Ridgway 1888) (subsp. Thamnophilus doliatus).
• "ZOSTEROPS  INTERMEDIA.  ...  Very near Z. flava, but a little larger, more yellow on the forehead and less on the upper tail-coverts, and the black subocular streak not extending so far forward  ...  Hab. Macassar and Lombock.   Remark.—Mr. G. R. Gray attached the MS. name of intermedius to my Macassar specimen." (Wallace 1864) (subsp. Zosterops chloris).

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (montanus)
SCI Name: Agriornis montanus montanus
montanum / montanus
L. montanus  found on mountains, mountain-, mountaineer  < mons, montis  mountain.
● “We saw abundance of these birds in the mountainous Countries of Stiria and Carinthia, as we travelled from Vienna to Venice” (Ray 1678); "98. FRINGILLA.  ...  montana.  28. F. remigibus rectricibusque fuscis, corpore griseo nigroque, alarum fascia alba gemina.  Passer montanus. Aldr. orn. t. 15. c. 15. Olin. av. 46. Raj, av. 87.  Habitat in Europa.  Simillima Fr. domesticæ sed minor & fascia duplex in alarum tegetibus alba s. tectrices alarum primi secundique ordinis albi, at in F. domestica tantum secundi." (Linnaeus 1758) (Passer).
● Montana, USA (subsp. Junco oreganus).
● Montana Sierra, Valle, Venezuela (syn. Megascops choliba crucigerus).
● ex “Braunes Feldhuhn” of Frisch 1733-1763, “Perdix montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Perdrix de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 136, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Perdix perdix).
● ex “Merula montana” of Brisson 1760, and “Merle de montagne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 182 (syn. Turdus torquatus).

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (maritimus)
SCI Name: Agriornis montanus maritimus
maritima / maritimus
L. maritimus  maritime, of the sea  < mare, maris  sea.
● "Of this bird I can find no description. It inhabits the low, rush-covered islands along our Atlantic coast, where I first found it" (A. Wilson 1811) (Ammodramus).