Uniform Swiftlet

SCI Name:  Aerodramus vanikorensis
Protonym:  Hirundo vanikorensis Voy.AstrolabeZool. 1 p.206 AtlasOis. pl.12 fig.3
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Apodidae / Aerodramus
Taxonomy Code:  uniswi1
Type Locality:  Island of Vanikoro.
Author:  Quoy & Gaimard
Publish Year:  1830
IUCN Status:  

DEFINITIONS

AERODRAMUS
(Apodidae; Ϯ Himalayan Swiftlet A. brevirostris innominatus) Gr. αηρ aēr, αερος aeros  air; -δρομος -dromos  -racer  < τρεχω trekhō  to run; "A.—Tarsus more or less feathered (subgenus Aerodramus).  ...  AERODRAMUS, ⁶ subgenus nov.   Chars. subgen.— Similar in proportions to the subgenus Collocalia, but tarsus more or less feathered.  Type.— Collocalia innominata Hume.   ...   ⁶ αηρ, aer; δραμειν, cursare." (Oberholser 1906); "Aerodramus Oberholser, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 58, 1906, p. 179 (in key), p. 182.  Type, by original designation, Collocalia innominata Hume." (Peters, 1940, IV, p. 220).
Synon. Zoonava.

vanikorensis
Vanikoro I., Santa Cruz Is.

SUBSPECIES

Uniform Swiftlet (aenigma)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis aenigma
aenigma
L. aenigma, aenigmatis  mystery, riddle  < Gr. αινιγμα ainigma, αινιγματος  ainigmatos  riddle.
● "Collocalia vestita aenigma, subsp. nov.   Type, adult male, U. S. National Museum, No. 250207, Parigi, Celebes, September 10, 1916.  Collected by H. C. Raven (original No. 3056).   Similar to Collocalia vestita vestita from Java but much darker above, the wings and tail more shiny; lighter below, especially on the throat.  ...  These are so much darker above, with the throats so much lighter than the Javan form that they doubtless represent a distinct species.  Stresemann records his Collocalia fuciphaga micans from Celebes but that belongs to the unfeathered-tarsi section of the genus, so that Celebes like Java has two closely related species that can only be told apart with difficulty." (Riley 1918) (subsp. Aerodramus vanikorensis).
● "Elaenia aenigma spec. nova.  Unter dem am Monte Iliniza gesammelten Vögeln fand ich ein Exemplar einer Elaenia-Art, die ich nicht zu bestimmen vermochte und daher an Prof. C. HELLMAYR nach Wien sandte.  Dieser hielt sie zunächst für Elaenia albiceps griseogularis Sclater, gab indes in einem späteren Brief zu: "Die fragliche Elaenia ist mir nach abermaligem Vergleich ein Rätsel.  Sie scheint in der Tat nicht griseogularis zu sein, sondern erinnert in der Färbung der Unterseite an E. parvirostris Pelzeln, auch die Größe ist ähnlich, Ihr Vogel ist jedoch oberseits dunkler und weniger grünlich.  Leider ist der nicht ausgefärbt, worauf die Struktur der Oberschwanzdecken und das fast völlige Fehlen von Weiß an der Wurzel der Haubenfedern hinweisen.  E. chiriquensis brachyptera Berl. ist es bestimmt nicht, ebensowenig E. pallatangae Sclater.  An eine unbekannte Art vermag ich nicht zu glauben."  Wenn ich dieses Einzelstück trotzdem als neue Art beschreibe, so geschieht es in der Hoffnung, damit zu einer raschen Lösung des "Rätsels" anzuregen." (Stresemann 1937) (syn. Elaenia parvirostris).
● "Euscarthmornis aenigma, new species.  ...  In this species, as in E. zosterops, the innermost (first) primary is as short as the outermost (tenth)and the longest secondaries are equal to at least the 5th primary.  It is apparent, therefore, that aenigma belongs in the same genus with zosterops, whether in Idioptilon or Euscarthmus.  For reasons I have given under zosterops, I prefer not to recognize Idioptilon as distinct.  I do not believe, however, that aenigma can be placed in the same species with zosterops.  Until more is known of it, it is best kept specifically intact." (J. T. Zimmer 1940) (syn. Hemitriccus minimus).
● "Typus generis species unica cognita: Sapayoa aenigma sp. nov.  ...  This remarkable new genus, for which I propose the name Sapayoa, is difficult to place in the system.  After a careful comparison, however, I have come to the conclusion, that it is best placed among the Pipridae, not far from the genus Scotothorus  (Heteropelma, Cat. B. xiv. p. 318), and my friend Count Berlepsch, to whom I sent the bird before describing it, is of the same opinion.  In the uniform coloration and general structure of plumage this bird agrees most with Scotothorus, but the very weak and small feet remind one of Neopelma.  The metatarsus may be called ocreate, the scales being so fused as to show hardly any divisions.  About the upper half of the metatarsus is feathered, a very strange character among the Pipridae, though we find it among the Cotingidae in a somewhat different way in Phoenicocercus.  The toes are connected at their base, the outer and middle toe for quite half their length.  ...  The bill is most extraordinary, differing from the bills of all known Pipridae and Cotingidae.  Though laterally seen, it looks somewhat like the bill of Scotothorus, on account of the well developed ridge on the culmen, its great width and strong rictal bristles make it resemble the bills of certain Tyrannidae." (Hartert 1903) (Sapayoa).

Uniform Swiftlet (heinrichi)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis heinrichi
heinrichi
Gerhardt 'Gerd' Hermann Heinrich (1896-1984) German/Polish field entomologist, zoologist, collector in Poland, the Balkans, East Indies, Burma, Iran, tropical Africa, Mexico, and North America (subsp. Aerodramus vanikorensis, syn. Cacomantis aeruginosus, subsp. Cataponera turdoides, subsp. Chloris spinoides, Cossypha, syn. Dryobates minor buturlini, syn. Falco peregrinus ernesti, Geomalia, subsp. Heleia squamiceps, subsp. Prinia bairdii, subsp. Scolopax celebensis, syn. Sturnus vulgaris caucasicus, subsp. Zosterops senegalensis).

Uniform Swiftlet (moluccarum)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis moluccarum
molucca / moluccana / moluccanus / moluccarum / moluccensis / moluccus
Moluccas, a group of islands in the Dutch East Indies / Maluku provinces, Indonesia, formerly known as the Spice Is. (Arabic name Jazirat al-Muluk  island of the kings).
● ex “Greater Cockatoo” of Edwards 1751, “Cacatua rubro cristata” of Brisson 1760, “Kakatoës à huppe rouge” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 498, and “Great red-crested Cockatoo” of Latham 1781 (Cacatua).
● ex “Gros-bec des Moluques” of Brisson 1760 (Lonchura).
● ex “Psittacus humeris luteo-maculatis” of Brisson 1760, “Lori des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 216, “Lori Noira” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Scarlet Lori” of Edwards 1743-1751, and Latham 1781 (syn. Lorius garrulus).
● Bouro I. (= Buru); ex “Polochion” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Molucca Bee-eater” of Latham 1782: “It is called Polochion*, from its imitating the sound of that word as its common and perpetual note ...*This, in the language of those islanders, signifies, kiss us” (Philemon).
● Erroneous TL. Moluccas (= Malacca); ex “Petit pic des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 748, fig. 2, “Petit épeiche brun des Moluques” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Brown Woodpecker” of Latham 1782 (Picoides).
● Erroneous TL. Moluccas (= Malacca); ex “Merle des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 257 (Pitta).
● Erroneous TL. Amboina (= Botany Bay, New Holland); ex “Perruche des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 743, and “Orange-breasted Parrot” of Latham 1781 (Trichoglossus).

Uniform Swiftlet (waigeuensis)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis waigeuensis
waigeuense / waigeuensis / waigeunsis / waigiouensis / waigiuensis / waigoui
Waigiu I., Moluccas, Dutch New Guinea / Waigeu or Waigeo, Raja Ampat group, West Papua, Indonesia.

Uniform Swiftlet (steini)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis steini
steini
Dr Georg Hermann Wilhelm Stein (1897-1976) German zoologist, collector in the East Indies and New Guinea (subsp. Aerodramus vanikorensis, subsp. Butorides striata, subsp. Cormobates placens, syn. Crateroscelis robusta sanfordi, syn. Gennaeodryas placens, subsp. Microptilotis montanus, subsp. Monarcha cinerascens, subsp. Myzomela nigrita, subsp. Poecilodryas hypoleuca, subsp. Rallicula forbesi, syn. Zosterops montanus).

Uniform Swiftlet (yorki)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis yorki
yorki
Cape York, northern Queensland, Australia.
● York, Western Australia (syn. Lichmera indisticta).

Uniform Swiftlet (tagulae)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis tagulae
tagulae / tagulana / tagulanum / tagulanus
Tagula I. (= Sudest I. = Vanatinai), Louisiade Archipelago.

Uniform Swiftlet (coultasi)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis coultasi
coultasi
Cdr. William Ferrell Coultas (1899-1965) US Navy, intelligence officer, collector in the Pacific 1929-1937 (Mark Brown in litt.) (subsp. Aerodramus vanikorensis, subsp. Aviceda subcristata, Monachella, Rhipidura, subsp. Symposiachrus infelix).

Uniform Swiftlet (pallens)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis pallens
pallens
L. pallens, pallentis  pale-coloured, greenish, yellowish  < pallere  to be pale.

Uniform Swiftlet (lihirensis)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis lihirensis
lihirensis
Lihir I., Lihir Group, Bismarck Archipelago.

Uniform Swiftlet (lugubris)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis lugubris
lugubris
L. lugubris  mournful, plaintive  < lugere  to mourn.
● ex “Merle brun du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 563, fig. 1 (unident.).

Uniform Swiftlet (vanikorensis)
SCI Name: Aerodramus vanikorensis vanikorensis
vanikorensis
Vanikoro I., Santa Cruz Is.