Little Cuckoo-Dove

SCI Name:  Macropygia ruficeps
Protonym:  Columba ruficeps Pl.Col. livr.95 pl.561
Taxonomy:  Columbiformes / Columbidae / Macropygia
Taxonomy Code:  licdov1
Type Locality:  Java and Sumatra, restricted type locality, Java.
Author:  Temminck
Publish Year:  1835
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MACROPYGIA
(Columbidae; Ϯ Philippine Cuckoo Dove M. tenuirostris) Gr. μακρος makros  deep; -πυγιος -pugios  -rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump; "Macropygia, Sw.   Wings moderate, rounded; the first and second quills graduated, and much shorter than the third.  Tail long, graduated; the feathers very broad and obtuse. The rump feathers very thick set.  Bill short: the gonys angulated.  Tarsus plumed.  Hinder toe longer than the tarsus.   M. phasianella. Pl. Col. 100.   Reinwardii. Ib. 248.   infuscata. Lich. (Brazil.)" (Swainson 1837); "Macropygia Swainson, Classif. Bds., 2, 1837, p. 348. Type, by subsequent designation, Columba phasianella Temminck, 1824, pl. col. 100. (not Columba phasianella Temminck 1821)  = Macropygia tenuirostris Bonaparte (Salvadori, Orn. Pap. e Mol., 3, 1882, p. 132).¹  ...  ¹ Gray mentions two species in 1840 and again in 1841 without designating a type; in 1855 he designates amboinensis which was not one of the originally included species. Strangely enough neither Bonaparte nor Reichenbach actually designated a type." (Peters 1937, III, 75).
Var. Hacropygia.
Synon. Coccyzura, Tusalia.

ruficeps
L. rufus  red, ruddy; -ceps  -headed  < caput, capitis  head.
● ex “Tordo del corona de canela” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 72 (syn. Chrysomus ruficapillus).

SUBSPECIES

Little Cuckoo-Dove (assimilis)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps assimilis
assimile / assimilis
L. assimilis  similar, like.  Indicates a close resemblance or relationship to another, but not necessarily congeneric, species.  Over forty forms have been given this epithet; only some examples follow.
● "4. Collocalia francica assimilis subsp. n.   Rücken und Unterseite etwas heller als bei den beiden vorhergehenden Formen [Collocalia francica towsendi [sic]] und mit der typischen Form übereinstimmend; von dieser ist C. fr. assimilis indessen durch die dunklere Färbung des Oberkopfes und die durchschnittlich geringere Grösse wohl unterschieden." (Stresemann 1912) (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius).
● "Tanagra (Arrémon, Vieillot; Embernagra, Lesson) assimilis, Boiss. — Cette espèce est très-voisine par sa coloration de l'Arrémon à collier de Vieillot, ou oiseau silencieux de Buffon [Arremon taciturnus], mais elle est d'un tiers plus forte et n'a pas de collier noir sur la poitrine." (Boissonneau 1840) (Arremon).
● "91. CUCULUS ASSIMILIS.   Allied to C. flavus [= syn. Cacomantis merulinus].  ...  Hab. Aru Islands.  ♀ in Mr. Wallace's Collection." (G. Gray 1858) (syn. Cacomantis variolosus infaustus).
● "Alcyone Assimilis (allied kingfisher).—The specific name which I have applied to this species has reference to the similarity which exists between our A. Pusilla and itself, but the general dulness of color throughout, and the absence of the slightest tinge of green sufficiently distinguish it." (Diggles 1873) (syn. Ceyx pusillus).
● "41. Chlorostilbon assimilis, sp. nov.  ...  This species is somewhat like C. melanorhynchus, Gould, but is smaller; the bill is much shorter and comparatively weaker; the crown is uniform in color with the back, not brilliant as in melanorhynchus, the latter species is also more golden on the abdomen, and has the tail less forked with the feathers narrower." (Lawrence 1861) (Chlorostilbon).
● “CIRCUS ASSIMILIS, (NOBIS).  ...  In general form and colour it closely resembles the females of the true Circi, particularly of our own British species, that of the C. ranivorus of Africa, and of the C. histrionicus.  It is, however, a larger and more powerful bird than any of these.” (Jardine & Selby 1828) (Circus).
● "Genus Picus, L., as restricted to the pied species forming the division Dendrocopus of Swainson.  The Indian species of this group are treated of in XIV, 916, so far as we were then cognisant of them.  We have since learned of two others described from the "Himalaya," viz. P. assimilis, Natterer,—like P. himalayanus (No. 287), but with the scapulary feathers white, and some other distinctions,—and P. scintilla, Lichtenstein" (Blyth 1849) (Dendrocopos).
● "5 GERYGONE ASSIMILIS, Buller. — In form and color this bird is hardly distinguishable from G. flaviventris, although somewhat larger." (Buller 1865) (syn. Gerygone igata).
● "Eriocnemis assimilis.  ...  Elle est très-voisine de l'E. aureliæ. Bourc. et Mulsant, mais elle a les plumes duveteuses des tarses, d'un jaune-brunâtre uni, tandis que celles d'aureliæ sont blanches avec quelques-unes carnées ou roussâtres à la base.  Il y a entre ces deux espèces la même différence qui existe avec l'Eriocnemis lugens et l'E. squamata de Gould, et celles-ci ont généralement été acceptées par les naturalistes comme de bonnes espèces." (Elliot 1876) (Haplophaedia).
● "MUNIA CASTANEOTHORAX ASSIMILIS, subsp. n.   Differs from M. castaneothorax (Gould) in having the chestnut band on the chest much darker in colour, and the upper tail-coverts rich chestnut-brown." (Mathews 1910) (syn. Lonchura castaneothorax).
● "MALURUS ASSIMILIS, sp. nov.  ...  The above-described species belongs to that section of the genus Malurus in which the adult males are distinguished by their chestnut shoulders, and is more closely allied to M. lamberti." (North 1901) (subsp. Malurus lamberti).
● "As the species now exhibited closely assimilates to the M. macroptera, I propose to designate it as  MICRŒCA ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to but much less in size than M. macroptera, Vig. and Horsf., and from which it may also be distinguished by the base of the outer tail-feathers being brown." (Gould 1841) (subsp. Microeca fascinans).
● "Myrmotherula assimilis Pelzeln. N. 931. partim.  ...  M. Hauxwellii Sclater persimilis sed cauda longiore rectricibus 12 predita, secundariis et tectricibus caudae superioribus albo haud maculatis, differt" (von Pelzeln 1868) (Myrmotherula).
● "26.  Pachycephala assimilis (J. Verr. et O. des Murs.)  ...  Cette espèce se rapproche beaucoup du Pachycephala falcata [= subsp. P. rufiventris] de Gould, qui provient de la Nouvelle-Hollande; mais, en les comparant, il est impossible de les confondre, ce qui nous a décidés à lui imposer le nom d'assimilis." (J. Verreaux & des Murs 1860) (syn. Pachycephala rufiventris xanthetraea).
● "On a former occasion, (S. F. Vol. I., p. 429, Dec. 1873) I discriminated the Ceylon Phodilus and pointed out clearly wherein it differed from the Himalayan birds.  I did not then name it, because I was under the impression that Malayan specimens differed similarly.  This, however, does not seem to be the case, and having now seen a second Ceylon specimen, presenting the same specific characters as the first, I desire to propose for it provisionally the name of PHODILUS ASSIMILIS." (Hume 1877) (Phodilus).
● "1274.  Meliornis novaehollandiae assimilis subsp. n.   Victorian White-bearded Honey Eater.  Mathews, Handlist No. 799 (pars).  Differs from M. n. novaehollandiae in its darker coloration on the head and with fewer stripes on the belly..  Type: Victoria, No. 9062." (Mathews 1912) (syn. Phylidonyris novaehollandiae campbelli).
● "BROADBENTIA FLAVA.  YELLOW HONEY-EATER.   ...   Collected near Cairns, North Queensland, in July, 1911, and is the type of B. f. assimilis."(Mathews 1925). Perhaps only a lapsus for addenda (syn. Stomiopera flava addenda).
● "Rhynchocyclus assimilis Pelzeln N. 220?  ...  Rh. sulphurescente (Spix.) similis sed minor et rostro breviore, latiore, magis acuminato." (von Pelzeln 1868) (Tolmomyias).
● "TROGON ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to Trogon personata, but differing from that species in the tail being nearly black, in the transverse markings being very slight and in the extremities more largely tipped with white; the freckled markings of the wing are also much more minute." (Gould 1846) (subsp. Trogon personatus).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (engelbachi)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps engelbachi
engelbachi
Dr Pierre-Henri Engelbach (1890-1961) French surgeon, ornithologist, collector in Indochina 1924-1946 (subsp. Heterophasia desgodinsi, subsp. Lophura nycthemera, subsp. Macropygia ruficeps).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (malayana)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps malayana
malaya / malayana / malayanus / malayensis
Malaya  < Malay Melayu  Malays  < Melaka  Malacca (a powerful mediaeval sultanate). In ornithology the name can refer either to the Malay Peninsula or the Malay Archipelago (also known as the Indian Archipelago, Malaysia or the East Indies).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (simalurensis)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps simalurensis
simalurense / simalurensis
Simalur I., Barussan Is., off Sumatra, Indonesia.

Little Cuckoo-Dove (sumatrana)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps sumatrana
sumatrae / sumatrana / sumatranum / sumatranus / sumatrensis
Sumatra, Dutch East Indies / Indonesia  < Sanskrit Samudra  sea (a name subsequently mangled by European travellers).
● ex “Malacca Partridge” of Latham 1823 (syn. Caloperdix oculeus).
● Perhaps the “Polo Condor Gull” of Latham 1801 (Sterna).
● Erroneous TL. Sumatra (= Celebes / Sulawesi) (Tanygnathus).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (nana)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps nana
nana
L. nanus  dwarf  < Gr. νανος nanos  dwarf.
● ex “Petit Marteau” of Sganzin 1840 (Lepidopygia).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (ruficeps)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps ruficeps
ruficeps
L. rufus  red, ruddy; -ceps  -headed  < caput, capitis  head.
● ex “Tordo del corona de canela” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 72 (syn. Chrysomus ruficapillus).

Little Cuckoo-Dove (orientalis)
SCI Name: Macropygia ruficeps orientalis
orientale / orientalis
L. orientalis  eastern, oriental  < oriens, orientis  east.
● Asia; ex “Anser moschoviticus” of Albin 1731-1738, and “Anser chinensis” of Linnaeus 1747 (syn. Anser cygnoides).
● India; ex Ardea antigone Linnaeus, 1758, “Grus orientalis” of Brisson 1760, and “Indian Crane” of Latham 1785 (syn. Antigone antigone).
● East Indies (= Seram and New Guinea); ex “Casoar des Indes orientales” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 313 (syn. Casuarius casuarius).
● India; ex “Eastern Parrot” of Latham 1781 (?syn. Eclectus roratus).
● East Indies (= Amboina); ex “Coucou noir des Indes” (= ♂) and “Coucou tacheté des Indes” (=♀) of Brisson 1760 (subsp. Eudynamys scolopaceus).
● East Indies (=Java); ex “Rollier des Indes” of Brisson 1760 (Eurystomus).
● East Indies; ex “Merula indica” of Brisson 1760, “Merle des Indes Orientales” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 273, fig. 2, and “Ash-rumped Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Lalage nigra).
● India; ex “Indian Bee-eater” and “Coromandel Bee-eater” of Latham 1782-1787 (Merops).
● Asia; ex “Onocrotalus” or “Pelecanus” of previous authors (syn. Pelecanus onocrotalus).
● "91. TETRAO.  ...  orientalis.  12. T. pedibus antice pilosis: abdomine gulaque atra, collari ferrugineo, cauda cuneiformi.  Tetrao orientalis. Hasselq. it. 278. n. 43.  Perdix damascena. Will. orn. 128.  Francolin. Tournef. it. I. p. 158. t. 158.  Habitat in Oriente." (Linnaeus 1758) (Pterocles).
● China; ex “Tourterelle brune de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1782, and “Chinese Turtle” of Latham 1783 (Streptopelia).
● China; ex “China Owl” of Latham 1801 (syn. Strix seloputo).