Rusty-crowned Babbler

SCI Name:  Sterrhoptilus capitalis
Protonym:  Mixornis (?) capitalis Ann.Mag.Nat.Hist.(4), 20 p.535
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Zosteropidae / Sterrhoptilus
Taxonomy Code:  rucbab3
Type Locality:  Dinagat, Philippine Islands.
Author:  Tweeddale
Publish Year:  1877
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

STERRHOPTILUS
(Zosteropidae; Ϯ Rusty-crowned Babbler S. capitalis) Gr. στερρος sterrhos  stiff, rigid; πτιλον ptilon  feather; "The genus Zosterornis Grant, a group of Timaliidae allied to Mixornis, at present comprises seven species, all peculiar to the Philippine Islands. It was originally described by Mr. Ogilvie Grant for the reception of a new bird, Zosterornis whiteheadi Grant, discovered by Mr. John Whitehead in the island of Luzon. Since then three more species have been described, and three others originally referred to the genus Mixornis have been transferred to the same group. All of these, however, excepting the type of Zosterornis and possibly Zosterornis striatus Grant, which latter we have not seen, are not congeneric, and it is therefore necessary to provide for them a new generic name.   Sterrhoptilus,² gen. nov.  Chars. gen. —  Similar to Zosterornis Hodgson, but tarsus relatively, as well as actually, much shorter  ...  tail not almost square, but rounded, even somewhat graduated  ... feathers of pileum narrowed, stiffened, and somewhat pointed, not broad and rounded at their ends as in Zosterornis.  Type.— Mixornis capitalis Tweeddale.  ...  All the species here referred to Sterrhoptilus have the upper surface more or less streaked, not plain as in Zosterornis whiteheadi; and furthermore there is no white eye-ring in any of them.   ...   ²Στεῥῥος, rigidus;  πτιλον, penna." (Oberholser 1918).
Synon. Borisia.

capitale / capitalis
L. capitalis  relating to the head, capital, chief  < caput, capitis  head, chief.
● "Forehead, and crown to line between middle of orbits, pale creamy drab, shading abruptly into the purplish iridescence which overlies remainder of crown and back of neck." (Nelson 1898) (subsp. Leptotila verreauxi).
● ex “Capital Tanager” of Latham 1787 (Ploceus).

SUBSPECIES

Rusty-crowned Babbler (capitalis)
SCI Name: Sterrhoptilus capitalis capitalis
capitale / capitalis
L. capitalis  relating to the head, capital, chief  < caput, capitis  head, chief.
● "Forehead, and crown to line between middle of orbits, pale creamy drab, shading abruptly into the purplish iridescence which overlies remainder of crown and back of neck." (Nelson 1898) (subsp. Leptotila verreauxi).
● ex “Capital Tanager” of Latham 1787 (Ploceus).

Rusty-crowned Babbler (euroaustralis)
SCI Name: Sterrhoptilus capitalis euroaustralis
euroaustralis
L. eurus  east, east wind; australis  southern  < auster, austri  south.

Rusty-crowned Babbler (isabelae)
SCI Name: Sterrhoptilus capitalis isabelae
isabelae
Isabela, Basilan, Philippines.