Puff-throated Babbler

SCI Name:  Pellorneum ruficeps
Protonym:  Pellorneum ruficeps FaunaBor.-Am.[Swainson&Richardson] 2(1831) p.487
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pellorneidae / Pellorneum
Taxonomy Code:  putbab1
Type Locality:  India; type locality restricted to Coonoor, Madras, by Deignan, 1947, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 107 (14), p. 3.
Author:  Swainson
Publish Year:  1832
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PELLORNEUM
(Pellorneidae; Ϯ Puff-throated Babbler P. ruficeps) Gr. πελλος pellos  dark-coloured, dusky; ορνεον orneon  bird  < ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "Genus, PELLORNEUM*.   ...   Bill moderate, straight, somewhat conic; the tip notched.  Gonys ascending.  Frontal feathers small, rigid, directed forward.  Rictus bristled.  Wings very short, much rounded.  Tail moderate, graduated.  Tarsus and middle toe of equal length; lateral toes much shorter, equal.  Anterior claws very small, and but slightly curved.  Hinder toe shorter than the middle.  Anterior scales scarcely divided.   Type.—Pellorneum ruficeps, above brown, beneath fulvous white, striped with brown; chin white immaculate; front and crown rufous.  Inhabits India. MUS. NOST.   OBS.—This genus represents, or rather passes into Phyllastrephus; thus connecting the Crateropodinæ and the Brachypodinæ. From the former it is distinguished by its more slender thrush-like feet, its small slightly curved claws, &c. The general appearance of the only species I have yet seen, and which is from India, is that of a small thrush, but resembling a Timalia.   ...   *Th. πελλος fuscus, et ορνεον avis." (Swainson 1831).
Var. Pelorneum, Pellornium.
Synon. Bessethera, Cinclidia, Drymocataphus, Scotocichla.

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

Puff-throated Babbler (olivaceum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps olivaceum
olivaceum / olivaceus
Mod. L. olivaceus  olive-green, olivaceous  < L. oliva  olive.
● ex “Merle olive des grandes Indes” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 564, fig. 1 (syn. Acritillas indica).
● ex “Oliva” of Levaillant 1801, pl. 75 (Chlorophoneus).
● ex “Crimson-breasted Woodpecker” of Latham 1782 (Geocolaptes).
● ex “Troupiale olive de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 606, fig. 2, and “Cayenne Olive Oriole” of Latham 1782 (?syn. Icterus auricapillus).
● ex “White-cheeked Crow” of Latham 1801 (Psophodes).
● ex “Perroquet de l’isle de Luçon” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 287, “Perruche aux ailes chamarées” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Lace-winged Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Tanygnathus lucionensis).
● ex "Bruant de S. Domingue" of Brisson 1760 (Tiaris).
● ex “Merle olive du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of Brisson 1760 (Turdus).
● ex “Red-ey’d Fly-catcher” of Catesby 1731, “Muscicapa olivacea” of Edwards 1758, and “Muscicapa jamaicensis” of Brisson 1760 (Vireo).
● ex “Grimpereau olive de Madagascar” of Brisson 1760 (Zosterops).
● ex “Merula olivacea indica” of Brisson 1760 (unident.).

Puff-throated Babbler (ruficeps)
SCI Name: Pellorneum 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).

Puff-throated Babbler (punctatum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps punctatum
punctatum / punctatus
Mod. L. punctatus  spotted  < L. punctum  spot  < pungere  to puncture (cf. Med. L. punctatus  pointed).
● ex “Spotted Shag” of Latham 1785 (Phalacrocorax).
● ex “Spotted Shrike” of Latham 1781, and “Tachet” of Levaillant 1805 (Thamnophilus).

Puff-throated Babbler (mandellii)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps mandellii
mandelli / mandellii
Louis H. Mandelli (1833-1880) Italian tea planter in Darjeeling, Assam, ornithologist, collector (syn. Agraphospiza rubescens, Arborophila, subsp. Certhia hodgsoni, ?syn. Cyornis unicolor, Locustella, syn. Muscicapa muttui, subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps, subsp. Phylloscopus humei, syn. Pyrgilauda taczanowskii, subsp. Schoeniparus dubius).

Puff-throated Babbler (chamelum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps chamelum
chamelum
Gr. χαμηλος khamēlos  on the ground, creeping, low  < χαμαι khamai  on the ground.

Puff-throated Babbler (pectorale)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps pectorale
pectorale / pectoralis
L. pectoralis  of the breast, pectoral  < pectus, pectoris  breast.
● ex “Engoulevent à collier” of Levaillant 1806 (Caprimulgus).
● ex “Janfréderic” of Levaillant 1801-1804, pl. 111 (syn. Cossypha caffra).
● ex “Austral Quail” of Latham 1823 (Coturnix).
● ex “Gold-breasted Manakin” of Latham 1801 (Euphonia).
● ex “Petit Merle brun à gorge rousse de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 644, fig. 2, and “Yellow-breasted Thrush” of Latham 1785 (syn. Gymnopithys rufigula).
● ex “Red-breasted Snipe” of Montagu 1813 (syn. Limnodromus griseus).
● ex “Black-breasted Flycatcher” of Latham 1787 (Pachycephala).
● ex “Mbatuitui pecho listado” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 389 (syn. Pluvialis dominica).
● ex “Tachurí pecho amarillo” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 165 (Polystictus).
● ex “Black-breasted Grosbeak” of Latham 1783 (syn. Sporophila americana).
● ex “Cordon Noir” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 150 (artefact).
● ex “Hausse-Col Noir” of Levaillant 1802, pl. 110 (artefact).

Puff-throated Babbler (ripleyi)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps ripleyi
ripleyi
Dr Sidney Dillon Ripley II (1913-2001) US spymaster, ornithologist, conservationist, explorer, Secretary of the Smithsonian Inst. 1964-1984 (syn. Aethopyga nipalensis koelzi, subsp. Cettia castaneocoronata, subsp. Collocalia linchi, subsp. Crateroscelis robusta, syn. Chrysocorythus estherae vanderbilti, subsp. Edolisoma mindanense, ‡Gallirallus, subsp. Hydrornis irena, subsp. Neocrex colombiana, subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps, subsp. Phodilus assimilis, subsp. Pteruthius aeralatus).

Puff-throated Babbler (vocale)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps vocale
vocale / vocalis
L. vocalis  singing, sonorous, vocal  < vox, vocis  voice.

Puff-throated Babbler (victoriae)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps victoriae
victoria / victoriae
● Victoria, Australia (named after Alexandrina Victoria Queen of Great Britain) (syn. Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, syn. Alcedo azurea, subsp. Climacteris picumnus, syn. Colluricincla harmonica, syn. Coracina papuensis robusta, syn. Dasyornis brachypterus, syn. Drymodes brunneopygia, syn. Eurostopodus mystacalis, syn. Halobaena caerulea, syn. Ixobrychus minutus novaezelandiae, syn. Malurus splendens melanotus, subsp. Menura novaehollandiae, syn. Microeca fascinans, syn. Ninox strenua, syn. Oxyura australis, syn. Platycercus elegans, syn. Podargus strigoides, syn. Rhipidura albiscapa alisteri, subsp. Synoicus chinensis).
● Mt. Victoria (= Nat Ma Taung), Chin Hills, Burma (subsp. Aethopyga nipalensis, syn. Certhia manipurensis, subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps, subsp. Pyrrhula nipalensis, Sitta, syn. Siva strigula yunnanensis, subsp. Trochalopteron austeni).
● Alexandrina Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India (1819-1901; reigned 1837-1901) (syn. Ardea alba, Goura, Lophorina).
● Lake Victoria (= Victoria Nyanza), East Africa (syn. Cisticola chiniana fischeri, Ploceus).
● Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise Crown-Princess of Germany and Prussia (1840-1901), eldest child of Queen Victoria, and wife to Friedrich Wilhelm Crown-Prince of Germany and Prussia (Lamprolia).
● Marie Anne Victoire Mulsant née Jacquetton (1777-1854) mother of French ornithologist Martial Mulsant (Lesbia).
● Sierra La Victoria, southern Baja California, Mexico (subsp. Vireo gilvus).

Puff-throated Babbler (stageri)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps stageri
stageri
Dr Kenneth Earl Stager (1915-2009) US zoologist, explorer, collector, Curator Los Angeles County Nat. Hist. Mus. 1946-1976 (subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps).

Puff-throated Babbler (shanense)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps shanense
shanense / shanensis
Shan States, Burma / Shan State, Myanmar.

Puff-throated Babbler (hilarum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps hilarum
hilarum
L. hilarus  cheerful, merry  < Gr. ἱλαρος hilaros  merry, cheerful  < ἱλαος hilaos  propitious, gracious.

Puff-throated Babbler (minus)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps minus
minus
L. minus  less  < comp. parvus  small.

Puff-throated Babbler (subochraceum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps subochraceum
subochracea / subochraceum / subochraceus
L. sub beneath, somewhat; ochra ochre < Gr. ωχρα ōkhra yellow-ochre (cf. Late L. subochrus pale yellow).

Puff-throated Babbler (insularum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps insularum
insularum
L. insularum  of the islands  < insula, insulae  island.

Puff-throated Babbler (acrum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps acrum
acrum
Gr. ακρον akron  mountain top, peak  < ακρος akros  highest  < ακη akē  point.

Puff-throated Babbler (chthonium)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps chthonium
chthonium
Gr. χθονιος khthonios  of the earth  < χθων khthōn, χθονος khthonos  earth, ground.

Puff-throated Babbler (indistinctum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps indistinctum
indistincta / indistinctum / indistinctus
L. indistinctus indistinct, obscure  < in-  not; distinctus  distinct  < distinguere  to distinguish.
● “This bird ...appears very closely allied to the last [Melithreptus lunatus]. It is however in very bad condition, and scarcely admits of a description ...It has much of the appearance of a young bird” (Vigors & Horsfield 1827) (Lichmera).

Puff-throated Babbler (oreum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps oreum
oreum
Gr. ορειος oreios  mountain-haunting  < ορος oros, ορεος oreos  mountain.

Puff-throated Babbler (vividum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps vividum
vividum / vividus
L. vividus  vivid, animated, lively  < vivere  to be alive.

Puff-throated Babbler (elbeli)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps elbeli
elbeli
Dr Robert Edwin Elbel (1925-2005) US entomologist, herpetologist in Thailand 1951-1953, 1961-1963 (subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps, subsp. Psilopogon incognitus, subsp. Pycnonotus flaviventris).

Puff-throated Babbler (ubonense)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps ubonense
ubonense
Ubon or Ubon Ratchathani Province, north-eastern Thailand.

Puff-throated Babbler (deignani)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps deignani
deignani
Herbert Girton Deignan (1906-1968) US ornithologist, collector in Thailand 1928-1932, 1935-1937, 1952-1953, Australia 1948, and Madagascar 1962, OSS officer 1944-1946 (subsp. Aegithina tiphia, subsp. Cyornis banyumas, syn. Eurystomus orientalis, subsp. Glaucidium cuculoides, syn. Lewinia striata, subsp. Lonchura atricapilla, syn. Mixornis gularis connectens, syn. Myadestes occidentalis oberholseri, syn. Pachyglossa agilis modesta, subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps, subsp. Pericrocotus solaris, subsp. Prinia polychroa, syn. Pycnonotus aurigaster thais).

Puff-throated Babbler (dilloni)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps dilloni
dilloni / dillonii
• Dr Ricardo Leão Quartin Dillon (1811-1840) Portuguese explorer, collector in Abyssinia 1839-1840 (subsp. Bubo capensis, syn. Columba guinea).
• Dr Sidney Dillon Ripley II (1913-2001) US ornithologist, explorer (subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps).

Puff-throated Babbler (euroum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps euroum
euroum / eurous
L. eurous  eastern, oriental  < eurus  south-east wind  < Gr. ευρος euros  east wind.

Puff-throated Babbler (smithi)
SCI Name: Pellorneum ruficeps smithi
smithi
● Sir Andrew Smith (1797-1872) Scottish zoologist, ethnologist, explorer in South Africa, first Superintendent of Cape Town Mus. 1825 (syn. Caprimulgus europaeus, syn. Cisticola fulvicapilla ruficapilla, subsp. Eremopterix leucotis, syn. Fulmarus glacialoides, syn. Mirafra africanoides, syn. Terpsiphone viridis granti, Turdus).
● Dr Gideon B. Smith (1793-1867) US entomologist, subscriber to Audubon’s work (syn. Calcarius pictus).
● Austin Paul Smith (1881-1948) US collector in Mexico 1909, Costa Rica and Panama 1920-1937 (syn. Catharus mexicanus, syn. Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis).
● Dr Hugh McCormick Smith (1865-1941) US ichthyologist, explorer in the Philippines 1907-1910, US Bureau of Fisheries 1886-1922, Fisheries Advisor in Thailand 1923-1934, Curator of Zoology Smithsonian Inst. 1935-1941 (syn. Niltava vivida oatesi, syn. Pelargopsis capensis gigantea, subsp. Pellorneum ruficeps).
● Dr Harry Madison Smith (b. 1918) US zoologist, collector in Burma 1951-1952 (subsp. Timalia pileata).
● Dr Arthur Donaldson Smith (1864-1939) US big-game hunter, naturalist, collector in Abyssinia and Somaliland 1894-1895 (subsp. Prinia rufifrons, subsp. Turdoides leucopygia, syn. Zosterops abyssinicus jubaensis).
● see smithii