Sumatran Treepie

SCI Name:  Dendrocitta occipitalis
Protonym:  Glaucopis occipitalis Tijdschr.Nat.Gesch.Phys. 2(1835) p.343 pl.V
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Corvidae / Dendrocitta
Taxonomy Code:  sumtre1
Type Locality:  Sumatra.
Author:  Müller, S
Publish Year:  1836
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

DENDROCITTA
(Corvidae; Ϯ White-bellied Treepie D. leucogastra) Gr. δενδρον dendron  tree; κιττα kitta  magpie; "The genus proposed by Mr. Gould comprehends the Pica vagabunda, Wagl., Pica Sinensis, Gray, and a third species which the author believes to have been hitherto unnoticed.  To this group, on account of its arboreal habits, he gives the name of  DENDROCITTA.  Rostrum capite brevius, cultratum, ad basin latum, culmine arcuato, lateribus subtumidis.  Nares basales, plumis setaceis partim tectæ. Alæ mediocres, remigibus 5ta 6taque longioribus.  Cauda elongata, cuneata, rectricibus spatulatis.  Tarsi breves, debiles.  Digiti mediocres.  Hallux fortis, ungue forti, incurvo.  Typus genericus. DENDROCITTA LEUCOGASTRA.  ...  The shortness and comparative feeblenessof the tarsi in Dendrocitta, and its more elongated tail, the feathers of which are equally graduated, except the two middle ones which are much longer than the others, distinguish it from the typical Picæ, the common Magpie for example.  These characters are in accordance with its habit of wandering from tree to tree in search of its food. It is further distinguished by the form of its bill.  All the species yet known are natives of Eastern Asia." (Gould 1833); "Dendrocitta Gould, 1833, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 57.  Type, by original designation, Dendrocitta leucogastra Gould." (Vaurie in Peters, 1962, XV, p. 246).
Var. Dendrositta.
Synon. Vagabunda.

occipitalis
Late L. occipitalis  of the back of the head, occipital  < L. occipitium  occiput  < ob  towards, over; caput, capitis  head.
● ex “Azur à Calotte et à Collier Noir” of Levaillant 1805 (syn. Hypothymis azurea).
● ex “Huppard” of Levaillant 1796, pl. 2  < French huppe  crest; Busard  hawk (Lophaetus).