Chinese Shortwing

SCI Name:  Brachypteryx sinensis
Protonym:  Brachypteryx sinensis Bull.Br.Orn.Club 6 p. 50
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Muscicapidae / Brachypteryx
Taxonomy Code:  whbsho5
Type Locality:  Kuatun, northwest Fukien.
Author:  Rickett
Publish Year:  1897
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

BRACHYPTERYX
(Muscicapidae; Ϯ Javan Shortwing B. montana) Gr. βραχυς brakhus  short; πτερυξ pterux, πτερυγος pterugos  wing (cf. βραχυπτερος brakhupteros  short-winged  < βραχυς brakhus  short; πτερον pteron  wing); "Gen. 22. BRACHYPTERYX.  Rostrum mediocre, subcultratum, basi latius, ultra medium subconicum, attenuatum.  Culmen inter nares carinatum, deinde rotundatum, apicem versus arcuatum, emarginatum.  Mandibula lateribus marginatis, apice inclinata; tomiis maxillæ mandibulæque subinflexis.  Nares maximæ, in fovea subrotunda basali elongata obtusa sitæ; supra et postice membrana clausæ.  Alæ brevissimæ: remiges integræ, 1 subspuria, 2—5 gradatim increscentes, 5—10 subæquales longiores, reliquæ gradatim breviores.  Cauda rotundata.  Pedes elongati.  Digitus medius longissimus.  Ungues compressissimi, hallucis medio duplo majore, fortius arcuato.   The characters which distinguish this genus from Motacilla are the robustness of the bill, the arch or curvature of the culmen or back, the margin and inclination of the lower mandibule, and the size and protrusion of the nares.  It possesses likewise peculiarities in the shortness of the wings and the elevation of the tarsi.   Spec. 1. Brachypteryx montana.  ...  Ketek Javanis.   ...   Spec. 2. Brachypteryx sepiaria.  ...  Chichohan Javanis." (Horsfield 1821); "Brachypteryx Horsfield, 1822, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 13, p. 157. Type, by subsequent designation (G. R. Gray, 1855, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Birds, p. 41), Brachypteryx montana Horsfield." (Ripley in Peters, 1964, X, p. 14).  
Var. Brachypterix, Brachypterux.
Synon. Goldana.
● (Rallidae; syn. Gallirallus Ϯ Weka G. australis) "The third skull, with a beak like that of the Porphyrio and Brachypteryx was referred to the same family—'Rallidæ'—to which those genera belong.  ...  In these characters the Brachypteryx or Short-winged Rail of New Zealand more resembles Notornis." (Owen 1848 (April 13)); "Amongst the rarer and more instructive parts of this collection are some portions of a sternum of a small species of Dinornis or Palapteryx, and two nearly entire sternums of the new genus Notornis, which belongs to the same family (Rallidæ) as the rare Brachypteryx or short-winged Rail of New Zealand." (Owen 1848 (April 22)); "Genus Brachypteryx.   1280. The skeleton of the Short-winged Rail of New Zealand (Brachypteryx Australis)." (Owen 1853) (Laurent Raty in litt.)"Brachypteryx Owen, 1853, Descr. Cat. Ost. Ser. Mus. Roy. Coll. Surgeons, I, p. 237.  Type, by monotypy, Brachypteryx australis, i.e. Rallus australis Sparrman, 1786." (JAJ 2021).  

Brachypterus
(Falconidae; syn. Micrastur Ϯ Collared Forest Falcon M. semitorquatus) Specific name Falco brachypterus Temminck, 1822 (= syn. Micrastur semitorquatus); "LES BRACHYPTÈRES (¹)  Forment une petite tribu qui s'éloigne des éperviers ordinaires par quelques traits de physionomie  ... leurs ailes sont courtes ou dépassent à peine le croupion  ... Le type de cette tribu est l'autour brachyptère de M. Temminck  ... (¹) Brachypterus, Less." (Lesson 1838); "Brachypterus (not of Latreille, 1819, nor of Kugelann, 1794) Lesson, Compl. Buffon, 7, p. 113, 1836—type, by tautonymy, Falco brachypterus Temminck = Sparvius semitorquatus Vieillot." (Hellmayr and Conover, 1949, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. I (4), p. 242).
Var. Brachypteryx.

sinense / sinensis
Mod. L. Sinensis  Chinese  < Sina  China  < Late L. Sinae  Chinese  < Gr. Σιναι Sinai  Chinese. Also a frequent amendment for the toponyms chinensis and sinicus.
● ex “Grand Martinet de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1782 (unident.?Acridotheres sp.).
● ex “Chincou” of Levaillant 1796, pl. 12 (the “Schinkuh” of Forster 1798) (syn. Aegypius monachus).
● ex “Grand Duc de la Chine” of Mauduyt de la Varenne 1782-1787 (unident.?Bubo sp.).
● ex “Chinese Titmouse” of Latham 1783 (Chrysomma).
● ex “Galgulus sinensis” of Brisson 1760, “Rollier de la Chine” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 620, “Rolle de la Chine” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Chinese Roller” of Latham 1781 (syn. Cissa chinensis).
● ex “Pie de Macao” of Sonnerat 1782, and “Macao Crow” of Latham 1787 (syn. Dendrocitta formosae).
● Erroneous TL. China (= New Guinea); ex “Perroquet de la Chine” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 514, and “Perroquet vert” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Eclectus roratus pectoralis).
● ex “Chinese Heron” of Latham 1785 (Ixobrychus).
● ex "Mésange de Nanquin" of Sonnerat 1782, and “Chinese Tanager” of Latham 1783 (syn. Leiothrix lutea).
● ex “Turdus sinensis” of Brisson 1760, and “Chinese Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Leucodioptron canorum).
● ex “Gobe-mouches verdâtre de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Wreathed Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (Otocompsa).
● ex “Chinese Diver” of Latham 1785 (syn. Phalacrocorax carbo).
● ex “Bécassine de la Chine” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 881, and “Cape Snipe, var. B” of Latham 1785 (syn. Rostratula benghalensis).
● ex “Chinese Nuthatch” of Latham 1781 (J. Gmelin, 1788, nom. oblit.; nec Sitta sinensis J. Verreaux, 1871).
● ex “Chinese Tern” of Latham 1785 (subsp. Sternula albifrons).
● ex “China Owl” of Latham 1801 (syn. Strix seloputo).
● ex “Kinck de la Chine” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 617, “Kink” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Kink Oriole” of Latham 1782 (Sturnia).
● ex “Coucou bleu de la Chine” of Brisson 1760 (?syn. Urocissa erythrorhyncha).
● ex “Ortolan de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Chinese Bunting” of Latham 1783 (unident.).
● ex “Tarin de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Chinese Siskin” of Latham 1783 (unident.).
● ex “China Warbler” of Latham 1783 (unident.).
● ex “Chinese Jacana” of Latham 1785 (unident.).