Yellow-mantled Widowbird

SCI Name:  Euplectes macroura
Protonym:  Loxia macroura Syst.Nat. 1 pt2 p.845
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Ploceidae / Euplectes
Taxonomy Code:  yeswid2
Type Locality:  Whidah [= Dahomey].
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1789
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

EUPLECTES
(Ploceidae; Ϯ Southern Red Bishop E. orix) Gr. ευ eu  fine, good; Mod. L. plectes  weaver  < Gr. πλεκω plekō  to plait; "DIVISIONS OR SUB-GENERA.  MALIMBUS. Vieil.  ...  PLOCEUS. Cuv.  ...  EUPLECTES. Nob.  Bill of Ploceus. Toes and claws very slender. The greater quills scarcely longer than the lesser; spurious quill very minute.  Type, Loxia Orix. L.  ...  The Weaving Birds, confined to the hotter regions of the old world, are chiefly found in Africa, where they represent the Hangnests (Icterinæ) of America: an analogy long since remarked by Buffon. Both these tribes astonish us by the consummate skill with which they fabricate their nests: but the intelligence displayed by the African Weavers is still more wonderful." (Swainson 1829); "Euplectes Swainson, Zool. Illustr. 2nd ser. i, text to pl. 37, 1929 [sic = 1829].  Type by original designation, Loxia orix Linn." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, p. 759).
Var. Eupodes.
Synon. Boetticherella, Chera, Coliuspasser, Coliostruthus, Diatropura, Drepanoplectes, Groteiplectes, Hyperanthus, Niobe, Niobella, Oryx, Paraplectes, Penthetria, Penthetriopsis, Phlogoplectes, Pyromelana, Tachyplectes, Taha, Urobrachya, Xanthomelana.

macroura / macrouros / macrourus / macrura
Gr. μακρος makros  long; -ουρος -ouros  -tailed  < ουρα oura  tail.
● ex “Coliou de l’isle Panay” of Sonnerat 1776 (syn. Colius striatus).
● ex “Long-tailed Finch” of Latham 1783 (syn. Emberizoides herbicola).
● ex “Guainumbi” of Marcgrave 1648, Willughby 1676, and Ray 1713, “Mellivora avis maxima” of Sloane 1725, “Mellisuga cayenensis, cauda bifurca” of Brisson 1760, “Oiseau-mouche à longue queue couleur d’acier brune” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Cayenne forktailed Humming-bird” of Latham 1782 (Eupetomena).
● ex "Long-tailed Grosbeak" of Latham 1783 (Euplectes).
● ex “Gobe-mouche à longue queue de Gingi” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Long-tailed Thrush” of Latham 1783 (subsp. Kittacincla malabarica).
● ex “Petite Fauvette tachetée du cap de bonne espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 752, fig. 2, and “Great-tailed Warbler” of Latham 1783 (syn. Prinia maculosa).
● ex “Coliou hupé du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (Urocolius).
● "92. COLUMBA.  ...  macroura.  16. C. cauda cuneiformi longa, pectore purpurascente.  Columba macroura. Edw. av. 15. t. 15.  Palumbus migratorius. Catesb. car. I. p. 23. t. 23 [= Ectopistes].  Habitat in Canada; hybernat in Carolina." (Linnaeus 1758) (Zenaida).
● ex “Gobe-mouche à tête bleue de l’isle de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (unident.).

SUBSPECIES

Yellow-mantled Widowbird (Yellow-shouldered)
SCI Name: Euplectes macroura macrocercus
macrocercus
Gr. μακροκερκος makrokerkos  long-tailed  < μακρος makros  long; κερκος kerkos  tail.
● ex “Drongolon” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 174 (Dicrurus).

Yellow-mantled Widowbird (Yellow-mantled)
SCI Name: Euplectes macroura macroura/conradsi
EUPLECTES
(Ploceidae; Ϯ Southern Red Bishop E. orix) Gr. ευ eu  fine, good; Mod. L. plectes  weaver  < Gr. πλεκω plekō  to plait; "DIVISIONS OR SUB-GENERA.  MALIMBUS. Vieil.  ...  PLOCEUS. Cuv.  ...  EUPLECTES. Nob.  Bill of Ploceus. Toes and claws very slender. The greater quills scarcely longer than the lesser; spurious quill very minute.  Type, Loxia Orix. L.  ...  The Weaving Birds, confined to the hotter regions of the old world, are chiefly found in Africa, where they represent the Hangnests (Icterinæ) of America: an analogy long since remarked by Buffon. Both these tribes astonish us by the consummate skill with which they fabricate their nests: but the intelligence displayed by the African Weavers is still more wonderful." (Swainson 1829); "Euplectes Swainson, Zool. Illustr. 2nd ser. i, text to pl. 37, 1929 [sic = 1829].  Type by original designation, Loxia orix Linn." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, p. 759).
Var. Eupodes.
Synon. Boetticherella, Chera, Coliuspasser, Coliostruthus, Diatropura, Drepanoplectes, Groteiplectes, Hyperanthus, Niobe, Niobella, Oryx, Paraplectes, Penthetria, Penthetriopsis, Phlogoplectes, Pyromelana, Tachyplectes, Taha, Urobrachya, Xanthomelana.