White-rumped Swiftlet

SCI Name:  Aerodramus spodiopygius
Protonym:  Macropteryx spodiopygius U.S.Expl.Exped. 8 p.176
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Apodidae / Aerodramus
Taxonomy Code:  whrswi2
Type Locality:  Upolu and Tutuila, Samoa Islands.
Author:  Peale
Publish Year:  1848
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

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.

spodiopygia / spodiopygius
Gr. σποδιος spodios  ash-coloured, grey  < σποδος spodos  ashes; -πυγιος -pugios  rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump.

SUBSPECIES

White-rumped Swiftlet (delichon)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius delichon
DELICHON
(Hirundinidae; † Nepal House Martin D. nipalense) Anagram of genus Chelidon Boie, 1822, martin; "Genus DELICHON, (Hodgs.)  Moore, P. Z. S. (1854), p.    621. DELICHON NIPALENSIS, Hodgson.  ...  This interesting bird differs from the type of the genus Chelidon by its smaller and more robust bill, and by its short and nearly even tail, the wings also being shorter; from Cotyle it is at once distinguished by its plumed feet" (Moore 1854); "The subject that I beg to lay before the Meeting this evening, is a new form belonging to the family Hirundinidæ, lately collected in Nepal and presented to the Museum of the East India Company by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., which is allied to, but certainly distinct from, the genus Chelidon, and for which the following anagrammatical name is proposed.  DELICHON (nov. gen.)  ...  Type, D. Nipalensis, Hodgs. n. sp." (Moore 1855); "DELICHON F. Moore, 1854  N — Delichon nipalense F. Moore, 1854; type by monotypy ¹   ...   ¹ This name has usually been attributed to Horsfield and Moore but see Dickinson et al. (2001), where the name nipalensis is discussed; the same reasoning applies to the generic name." (Dickinson and  Christidis (eds.), H. & M. Complete Checklist, 4th ed., 2014, 2 (Passerines), p. 477).
Synon. Chelidon, Chelidonaria, Martula, Tichistes.

White-rumped Swiftlet (eichhorni)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius eichhorni
eichhorni
Albert Frederic Eichhorn (d. 1931) Australian farmer, gold-miner, collector in New Guinea, the Bismarcks, and Solomon Is. (subsp. Accipiter albogularis, subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius, subsp. Alopecoenas johannae, subsp. Erythrura trichroa, subsp. Leptocoma aspasia, Myiagra, Myzomela, subsp. Ninox jacquinoti, Philemon, subsp. Zoothera heinei, subsp. Zosterops griseotinctus).

White-rumped Swiftlet (noonaedanae)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius noonaedanae
noonaedanae
Danish two-masted research ketch Noona Dan carried expedition to the Philippines, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and Solomon Is. 1961-1962 (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygia).

White-rumped Swiftlet (reichenowi)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius reichenowi
reichenovi / reichenovii / reichenowi
Prof. Georg Anton Eugen Reichenow (1847-1941) German ornithologist (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius, Anthreptes, syn. Anthus spinoletta, Batis, subsp. Bocagia minuta, syn. Chlorophoneus multicolor, Cinnyris, subsp. Cisticola brachypterus,  Crithagra, Cryptospiza, subsp. Dendropicos gabonensis, Drepanorhynchus, syn. Dryocopus martius, subsp. Edolisoma schisticeps, syn. Emberiza goslingi, syn. Galerida cristata arenicola, syn. Gymnoris pyrgita, syn. Illadopsis fulvescens (ex Turdinus rufiventris Reichenow, 1893), syn. Lagonosticta rubricata haematocephala, syn. Lanius collurio (ex Lanius affinis Fischer & Reichenow, 1884), subsp. Melaenornis chocolatinus, syn. Merops viridissimus, syn. Milvus migrans, syn. Myrmecocichla albifrons frontalis, subsp. Numida meleagris, syn. Onychognathus fulgidus hartlaubii, subsp. Oriolus larvatus, subsp. Pachycephala hyperythra, Pionus, Pitta, subsp. Ploceus baglafecht, subsp. Poicephalus meyeri, syn. Prodotiscus zambesiae ellenbecki, subsp. Psalidoprocne pristoptera, subsp. Pteroglossus bitorquatus, syn. Ptyonoprogne obsoleta, syn. Pycnonotus xanthopygos, subsp. Rhipidura dryas, subsp. Sarothrura elegans, subsp. Sasia ochracea, subsp. Schistolais leucopogon, Streptopelia, syn. Symposiachrus axillaris fallax, syn. Tachymarptis aequatorialis, subsp. Tauraco livingstonii, subsp. Trochocercus nitens, syn. Turdoides jardineii emini, subsp. Tychaedon leucosticta, syn. Urorhipis rufifrons rufidorsalis, subsp. Zosterops senegalensis).

White-rumped Swiftlet (desolatus)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius desolatus
desolatus
L. desolatus  forsaken, desolated  < desolare  to abandon  < solus  alone, solitary.                                                                                                           ● Swallow Is., Solomon Is. (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius).

White-rumped Swiftlet (epiensis)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius epiensis
epiensis
Epi I., New Hebrides / Vanuatu.

White-rumped Swiftlet (ingens)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius ingens
ingens
L. ingens, ingentis  enormous, huge, great  < in  upwards, in height; genere  original form of gignere  to beget.

White-rumped Swiftlet (leucopygius)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius leucopygius
leucopygia / leucopygialis / leucopygius
Gr. λευκος leukos  white; -πυγιος -pugios  -rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump.

White-rumped Swiftlet (assimilis)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius assimilis
assimile / assimilis
L. assimilis  similar, like.  Indicates a close resemblance or relationship to another, but not necessarily congeneric, species.  Over forty forms have been given this epithet; only some examples follow.
● "4. Collocalia francica assimilis subsp. n.   Rücken und Unterseite etwas heller als bei den beiden vorhergehenden Formen [Collocalia francica towsendi [sic]] und mit der typischen Form übereinstimmend; von dieser ist C. fr. assimilis indessen durch die dunklere Färbung des Oberkopfes und die durchschnittlich geringere Grösse wohl unterschieden." (Stresemann 1912) (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius).
● "Tanagra (Arrémon, Vieillot; Embernagra, Lesson) assimilis, Boiss. — Cette espèce est très-voisine par sa coloration de l'Arrémon à collier de Vieillot, ou oiseau silencieux de Buffon [Arremon taciturnus], mais elle est d'un tiers plus forte et n'a pas de collier noir sur la poitrine." (Boissonneau 1840) (Arremon).
● "91. CUCULUS ASSIMILIS.   Allied to C. flavus [= syn. Cacomantis merulinus].  ...  Hab. Aru Islands.  ♀ in Mr. Wallace's Collection." (G. Gray 1858) (syn. Cacomantis variolosus infaustus).
● "Alcyone Assimilis (allied kingfisher).—The specific name which I have applied to this species has reference to the similarity which exists between our A. Pusilla and itself, but the general dulness of color throughout, and the absence of the slightest tinge of green sufficiently distinguish it." (Diggles 1873) (syn. Ceyx pusillus).
● "41. Chlorostilbon assimilis, sp. nov.  ...  This species is somewhat like C. melanorhynchus, Gould, but is smaller; the bill is much shorter and comparatively weaker; the crown is uniform in color with the back, not brilliant as in melanorhynchus, the latter species is also more golden on the abdomen, and has the tail less forked with the feathers narrower." (Lawrence 1861) (Chlorostilbon).
● “CIRCUS ASSIMILIS, (NOBIS).  ...  In general form and colour it closely resembles the females of the true Circi, particularly of our own British species, that of the C. ranivorus of Africa, and of the C. histrionicus.  It is, however, a larger and more powerful bird than any of these.” (Jardine & Selby 1828) (Circus).
● "Genus Picus, L., as restricted to the pied species forming the division Dendrocopus of Swainson.  The Indian species of this group are treated of in XIV, 916, so far as we were then cognisant of them.  We have since learned of two others described from the "Himalaya," viz. P. assimilis, Natterer,—like P. himalayanus (No. 287), but with the scapulary feathers white, and some other distinctions,—and P. scintilla, Lichtenstein" (Blyth 1849) (Dendrocopos).
● "5 GERYGONE ASSIMILIS, Buller. — In form and color this bird is hardly distinguishable from G. flaviventris, although somewhat larger." (Buller 1865) (syn. Gerygone igata).
● "Eriocnemis assimilis.  ...  Elle est très-voisine de l'E. aureliæ. Bourc. et Mulsant, mais elle a les plumes duveteuses des tarses, d'un jaune-brunâtre uni, tandis que celles d'aureliæ sont blanches avec quelques-unes carnées ou roussâtres à la base.  Il y a entre ces deux espèces la même différence qui existe avec l'Eriocnemis lugens et l'E. squamata de Gould, et celles-ci ont généralement été acceptées par les naturalistes comme de bonnes espèces." (Elliot 1876) (Haplophaedia).
● "MUNIA CASTANEOTHORAX ASSIMILIS, subsp. n.   Differs from M. castaneothorax (Gould) in having the chestnut band on the chest much darker in colour, and the upper tail-coverts rich chestnut-brown." (Mathews 1910) (syn. Lonchura castaneothorax).
● "MALURUS ASSIMILIS, sp. nov.  ...  The above-described species belongs to that section of the genus Malurus in which the adult males are distinguished by their chestnut shoulders, and is more closely allied to M. lamberti." (North 1901) (subsp. Malurus lamberti).
● "As the species now exhibited closely assimilates to the M. macroptera, I propose to designate it as  MICRŒCA ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to but much less in size than M. macroptera, Vig. and Horsf., and from which it may also be distinguished by the base of the outer tail-feathers being brown." (Gould 1841) (subsp. Microeca fascinans).
● "Myrmotherula assimilis Pelzeln. N. 931. partim.  ...  M. Hauxwellii Sclater persimilis sed cauda longiore rectricibus 12 predita, secundariis et tectricibus caudae superioribus albo haud maculatis, differt" (von Pelzeln 1868) (Myrmotherula).
● "26.  Pachycephala assimilis (J. Verr. et O. des Murs.)  ...  Cette espèce se rapproche beaucoup du Pachycephala falcata [= subsp. P. rufiventris] de Gould, qui provient de la Nouvelle-Hollande; mais, en les comparant, il est impossible de les confondre, ce qui nous a décidés à lui imposer le nom d'assimilis." (J. Verreaux & des Murs 1860) (syn. Pachycephala rufiventris xanthetraea).
● "On a former occasion, (S. F. Vol. I., p. 429, Dec. 1873) I discriminated the Ceylon Phodilus and pointed out clearly wherein it differed from the Himalayan birds.  I did not then name it, because I was under the impression that Malayan specimens differed similarly.  This, however, does not seem to be the case, and having now seen a second Ceylon specimen, presenting the same specific characters as the first, I desire to propose for it provisionally the name of PHODILUS ASSIMILIS." (Hume 1877) (Phodilus).
● "1274.  Meliornis novaehollandiae assimilis subsp. n.   Victorian White-bearded Honey Eater.  Mathews, Handlist No. 799 (pars).  Differs from M. n. novaehollandiae in its darker coloration on the head and with fewer stripes on the belly..  Type: Victoria, No. 9062." (Mathews 1912) (syn. Phylidonyris novaehollandiae campbelli).
● "BROADBENTIA FLAVA.  YELLOW HONEY-EATER.   ...   Collected near Cairns, North Queensland, in July, 1911, and is the type of B. f. assimilis."(Mathews 1925). Perhaps only a lapsus for addenda (syn. Stomiopera flava addenda).
● "Rhynchocyclus assimilis Pelzeln N. 220?  ...  Rh. sulphurescente (Spix.) similis sed minor et rostro breviore, latiore, magis acuminato." (von Pelzeln 1868) (Tolmomyias).
● "TROGON ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to Trogon personata, but differing from that species in the tail being nearly black, in the transverse markings being very slight and in the extremities more largely tipped with white; the freckled markings of the wing are also much more minute." (Gould 1846) (subsp. Trogon personatus).

White-rumped Swiftlet (townsendi)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius townsendi
townsendi / townsendii
● John Kirk Townsend (1809-1851) US ornithologist, explorer, collector (syn. Aphriza virgata, syn. Brachyramphus marmoratus, syn. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor, syn. Haematopus ater, Myadestes, subsp. Passerella unalaschcensis, syn. Phalacrocorax penicillatus, Setophaga, ‡Spiza).
● Charles Haskins Townsend (1859-1944) US naturalist, Fisheries Commission 1883, Director of New York Aquarium 1902-1937 (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius, subsp. Ducula oceanica, syn. Geospiza psittacula, syn. Hydrobates melania, subsp. Junco hyemalis, syn. Lagopus muta, subsp. Myiagra vanikorensis, subsp. Plectrophenax nivalis).
● Dr Charles Wendell Townsend (1859-1934) US obstetrician, field ornithologist, world-wide traveller, collector 1906-1932 (subsp. Cardinalis cardinalis, subsp. Spindalis zena, subsp. Thalurania colombica).

White-rumped Swiftlet (spodiopygius)
SCI Name: Aerodramus spodiopygius spodiopygius
spodiopygia / spodiopygius
Gr. σποδιος spodios  ash-coloured, grey  < σποδος spodos  ashes; -πυγιος -pugios  rumped  < πυγη pugē  rump.