Blue-gray Robin

SCI Name:  Peneothello cyanus
Protonym:  Myiolestes? cyanus Ann.Mus.Civ.Stor.Nat.Genova 6 p.84
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Petroicidae / Peneothello
Taxonomy Code:  bugrob1
Type Locality:  Hatam, Arfak Mountains.
Author:  Salvadori
Publish Year:  1874
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PENEOTHELLO
(Petroicidae; Ϯ White-winged Robin P. sigillata) L. pene  almost; Shakespearean character Othello, Moorish (i.e. black) Governor of Cyprus (cf. genus Othello Reichenbach, 1850, black antshrike); "A black series, with sigillata De Vis as type, I separate as PENEOTHELLO gen. nov.  These may not be closely related to the original Pœcilodryas at all.  They show none of the distinctive colours of the preceding and have assumed a black coloration direct from the juvenile plumage, and can only be placed in conjunction with the above mentioned by those who indulge in guesswork in classifying their birds.  As regards structural features they are large forms with small bills, medium feet, and the wing formation is degenerate, being more rounded than the typical species and approaching that of Iredaleornis, the second primary being about equal to the secondaries.  It should be obvious to the thinking student that these should be separated from the Pœcilodryas series as represented in Iredaleornis, Pœcilodryas and Leucophantes." (Mathews 1920).
Synon. Labeothello.

cyanus
Gr. κυανος kuanos dark-blue.
● Gr. κυανος kuanos unknown bird, formerly identified with the Blue Rock Thrush or the Wallcreeper; ex “Cyanus” of Gessner 1555, Belon 1555, Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and Ray 1713, “Passer solitarius congener” of Willughby 1676, “Merula solitaria” of Edwards 1743-1751, and Brisson 1760, and Turdus solitarius Linnaeus, 1758 (syn. Monticola solitarius).

SUBSPECIES

Blue-gray Robin (cyanus)
SCI Name: Peneothello cyanus cyanus
cyanus
Gr. κυανος kuanos dark-blue.
● Gr. κυανος kuanos unknown bird, formerly identified with the Blue Rock Thrush or the Wallcreeper; ex “Cyanus” of Gessner 1555, Belon 1555, Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and Ray 1713, “Passer solitarius congener” of Willughby 1676, “Merula solitaria” of Edwards 1743-1751, and Brisson 1760, and Turdus solitarius Linnaeus, 1758 (syn. Monticola solitarius).

Blue-gray Robin (atricapilla)
SCI Name: Peneothello cyanus atricapilla
atricapilla
L. atricapillus  black-haired (i.e. black-capped, black-headed) < ater  black; capillus  hair of the head (cf. L. atricapilla  unknown small bird, perhaps a tit or the Blackcap).
● ex “Merula atricapilla capitis b. spei” of Brisson 1760 (Donacobius).
● ex “Pato cabeza negra” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 438 (Heteronetta).
● ex “Tangara jaune à tête noire de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 809, fig. 2, “Mordoré” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Black-headed Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Lanio fulvus).
● ? ex “Chinese Sparrow” of Edwards 1743, and “Grosbec de la Chine” of Brisson 1760 (Lonchura).
● ex “Merula viridis atricapilla Moluccensis” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Pitta sordida).
● ex “Atricapilla” or “Ficedula” of Aldrovandus 1599, and Willughby 1676, “Black-Cap” of Ray 1713, and “Motacilla testacea, subtus cinerea, pileo obscuro” of Linnaeus 1746 (Sylvia).
● ex “Black-crowned Bunting” of Latham 1783 (Zonotrichia).
● ex “Cap Nègre” of Levaillant 1804, pl. 140 (unident.).

Blue-gray Robin (subcyanea)
SCI Name: Peneothello cyanus subcyanea
subcyanea / subcyaneus
L. sub near to; specific name Myiolestes cyanus Salvadori, 1874 (cf. Mod. L. subcyaneus pale blue) (subsp. Papualestes cyanus).