Rufous Scrub-bird

SCI Name:  Atrichornis rufescens
Protonym:  Atrichia rufescens Proc.Zool.Soc.London(1866) (1866), Pt3 p.438
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Atrichornithidae / Atrichornis
Taxonomy Code:  rusbir1
Type Locality:  Richmond River, New South Wales.
Author:  Ramsay, EP
Publish Year:  1866
IUCN Status:  Endangered

DEFINITIONS

ATRICHORNIS
(Atrichornithidae; Ϯ Noisy Scrub-bird A. clamosus) Gr. ατριχος atrikhos  without bristles or hair  < negative prefix α- a- ; θριξ thrix, τριχος trikhos  hair (cf. genus Atrichia Gould, 1844, scrub-bird); Gr. ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "Australian brush-bird Atrichornis rufescens   ...   The ATRICHORNITHIDÆ, brush- or scrub-birds, constitute a family of pseudoscinine, acromyodian Passeres, with two pairs of intrinsic muscles. They are not more numerous than the lyre-birds, comprising only one genus of two species, which also are exclusively Australian in their distribution.  Their external appearance does not indicate any close relationship with the lyre-birds, for in size and general form and coloration they more closely resemble some of our large wrens, with long graduated tails. Their habits are not unlike those of the lyre-birds, and their power of mocking other sounds is equally strong. From Mr. E. P. Ramsay's account of the habits of the species discovered by him, Atrichornis rufescens, we quote as follows: "Only on one occasion did I meet with more than a single bird in the same place. They are always among the logs and fallen trees, overgrown with weeds, vines, nettles, etc., and are the most tiresome birds to procure imaginable. As to their ventriloquial powers, they must be heard to be believed. It is impossible to say what its own note really is."" (Stejneger 1885); "Atrichornis Stejneger, 1885, in Kingsley, Standard Nat. Hist., 4, p. 462. New name for Atrichia Gould [not Atrichia Schranck, 1803 (Insects)]." (Mayr in Peters, 1979, VIII, p. 335).
Synon. Atrichia, Rahcinta.

rufescens
L. rufescens, rufescentis  reddish  < rufescere  to become reddish  < rufus  red.
● ex “Aigrette rousse de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 902, “Aigrette rousse” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Reddish Egret” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (Egretta).
● ex “Gobe-mouche roux de Cayenne” (= ♀) of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 453, fig. 1, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Rufous Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (syn. Pachyramphus rufus).
● ex “Red-backed Pelican” of Latham 1785 (Pelecanus).
● ex Tringa fulicaria Linnaeus, 1758, and “Phalarope roussâtre” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Phalaropus fulicarius).
● ex “Ynambú guazú” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 326 (Rhynchotus).
● ex “Crombec” or “Figuier à Bec Courbi” of Levaillant 1803, pl. 135 (Sylvietta).

SUBSPECIES

Rufous Scrub-bird (rufescens)
SCI Name: Atrichornis rufescens rufescens
rufescens
L. rufescens, rufescentis  reddish  < rufescere  to become reddish  < rufus  red.
● ex “Aigrette rousse de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 902, “Aigrette rousse” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Reddish Egret” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (Egretta).
● ex “Gobe-mouche roux de Cayenne” (= ♀) of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 453, fig. 1, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Rufous Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (syn. Pachyramphus rufus).
● ex “Red-backed Pelican” of Latham 1785 (Pelecanus).
● ex Tringa fulicaria Linnaeus, 1758, and “Phalarope roussâtre” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Phalaropus fulicarius).
● ex “Ynambú guazú” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 326 (Rhynchotus).
● ex “Crombec” or “Figuier à Bec Courbi” of Levaillant 1803, pl. 135 (Sylvietta).

Rufous Scrub-bird (ferrieri)
SCI Name: Atrichornis rufescens ferrieri
ferrieri
Dr Simon Ferrier (fl. 2008) Australian scientist, environmentalist (subsp. Atrichornis rufescens).