Gray Sibia

SCI Name:  Heterophasia gracilis
Protonym:  Hypsipetes gracilis Proc.Zool.Soc.London(1839) (1839), Pt7 no.82 p.159
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Leiothrichidae / Heterophasia
Taxonomy Code:  grysib1
Type Locality:  Assam ; restricted to the Naga Hills, by Koelz, 1954, Contrib. Inst. Regional Explor., no. 1, p. 7.
Author:  Horsfield
Publish Year:  1840
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HETEROPHASIA
(Leiothrichidae; Ϯ Long-tailed Sibia H. picaoides) Gr. ἑτερος heteros  different; φασις phasis  appearance  < φαινω phainō  to appear; “Heterophasia, Nobis, n. g?   A curious meruline form, exhibiting affinity for various distinct genera, but which cannot be immediately approximated to any with which I am acquainted. It has long rounded wings, a very long and much graduated tail, slender and slightly curving bill, and rather short tarsi.  Bill longer than the head, slender, tapering, a little incurved, its base as high as broad, and gradually more compressed for the basal ¾ths; the ridge of the upper mandible distinct (but not sharp) to beyond the nostrils, then rather less so, and its tip very slightly if at all emarginated: nostrils somewhat large, and almost closed by impending membrane, the naral orificies appearing as mere fissures on the inferior margin of this, though more apart anteriorly: a few small setæ at the gape. Tarse somewhat longer than the middle toe; and the claws compressed and suitable for perching.  Wings having the 5th or 6th primary longest, and the 7th equal to the 4th.  Tail broad and very much lengthened and graduated.  The plumage throughout is soft, dense, and smooth; the wings and tail tolerably firm.    34. H. cuculopsis, Nobis.   ...   At a first glance, this bird is apt to be mistaken for Cuculidous; an appearance to which its large and lengthened graduated tail, each feather tipped with whitish, its incurved bill, and the general hue of its colouring, alike contribute.  From Darjeeling.” (Blyth 1842); "Heterophasia Blyth, 1842, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 11, p. 186. Type, by monotypy, Heterophasia cuculopsis Blyth = Sibia picaoides Hodgson." (Deignan in Peters, 1964, X, p. 416).
Var. Heterophosia.
Synon. Malacias.

gracilis
L. gracilis or gracilus  slender, elegant, slim, thin.
● “has many characters in common with the Ptilotis chrysotis ... and the Ptilotis similis ... but it differs from both in the greater slenderness of its form, in its diminutive size, and, especially from the former, in the uniform colouring of its throat and abdomen” (Gould 1866) (Microptilotis).
● ex “Gracile Goatsucker” of Latham 1801 (syn. Podargus strigoides).