Part 168

Edges of mandibles smooth with a small notch near the tip of the upper one; bill moderately broad and flat; nostrils protected by a number of long frontal bristles; frontal feathers more or less antrorse (soft and pile-like in some genera), but not entirely concealing the nostrils; rictal bristles long, numerous, and stiff; wings and tail long, the latter extremely long in some species; first primary, rarely minute, usually from one-half to two-thirds as long as wing; tarsus and feet slender and weak, the former rather short. This family contains a great number of closely related genera the species of which, in many cases, are not easily determined except from adult males.

Typically the bill is broad and flat, but in certain genera it is narrow and scarcely differs from the bill of some Turdine and Silvine birds. The frontal nasal bristles, long rictal bristles, and the weak legs and feet, are the most reliable family characters of this group. In the typical flycatchers the skin is very thin and tender which, taken in combination with their small necks and large heads, makes their preparation as specimens very trying.

Some of the most beautiful birds found in the Philippine Islands belong to this family, but several of the species are plainly colored. The males in a few genera possess greatly lengthened tail-feathers; in some others the head is crested.

Genera.

a1. First primary very small and less than tarsus, equal to about one-fifth of second primary, the latter nearly as long as the third. ... Hemichelidon (p. 431) a2. First primary longer and equal to, or greater than, tarsus; second primary less than three times the first.

b1. Second primary longer, equal to nearly three times the first.

c1. Sexes unlike in colors; bill neither very broad nor flat.

d1. Tarsus about twice the bill from nostril; colors of male yellow, black, and white. ... Zanthopygia (p. 449) d2. Tarsus decidedly less than twice the bill from nostril; colors of male blue, black, and white. ... Cyanoptila (p. 450)

c2. Sexes alike in colors; bill broad and flat. ... Alseonax (p. 435)

b2. Second primary less than two and one-half times, and usually less than twice, the first primary in length.

c1. Tail decidedly shorter than wing; total length usually less than 150 mm.; wing less than 80.

d1. Most of the plumage blue; usually with more or less black on forehead, lores, and chin.

e1. General color azure-blue; head in adult conspicuously crested. ... Camiguinia (p. 453) e2. General color verditer-blue; head uncrested. ... Eumyias (p. 477)

d2. Most of the plumage not blue.

e1. General color bright yellow or olive-green, the under parts at least, yellow or greenish yellow.

f1. Bill greatly flattened, width at base nearly equal to bill from nostril; rictal bristles strong, much longer than bill from nostril; breast and abdomen bright yellow. ... Culicicapa (p. 472) f2. Rictal bristles weak, shorter than bill from nostril; width of bill at base much less than bill from nostril.

g1. Under parts pale yellow; upper parts earthy brown. ... Gerygone (p. 447) g2. Under parts greenish, or else white streaked with pale yellow; upper parts olive-green. ... Cryptolopha (p. 473)

e2. General color neither yellow, olive-green, nor greenish yellow.

f1. Tail relatively longer, three to three and one-half times the tarsus.

g1. Throat and breast orange-buff or blue, never white. ... Cyornis (p. 436) g2. Throat and breast white, never buff nor blue. ... Rhinomyias (p. 467)

f2. Tail relatively shorter, equal to about two and one-half times the tarsus. ... Muscicapula (p. 441)

c1. Tail equal to or longer than wing, sometimes very much longer.

d1. Without a distinct fleshy eye-wattle and without an elongated nuchal crest.

e1. Rictal bristles very strong and conspicuous, the longest equal to bill from base; plumage of crown not soft and velvety. ... Rhipidura (p. 456) e2. Rictal bristles few, small and inconspicuous, the longest less than culmen from base; plumage of head soft and velvety; color mostly bright blue, never chestnut-brown. ... Hypothymis (p. 451)

d2. With a distinct fleshy eye-wattle; and with either a full or a long nuchal crest.

e1. Plumage mostly blue, or else reddish chestnut, never black.

f1. Much smaller; wing less than 80 mm.; feathers of crown scale-like; occipital crest-feathers long and slender; plumage bright blue. ... Cyanomyias (p. 455) f2. Much larger; wing more than 90 mm.; feathers of crown not scale-like; occipital crest full but not greatly lengthened. ... Xeocephus (p. 461)

e2. Plumage of adult male black and white; central tail-feathers very long; in no age of either sex is the plumage either largely blue or chestnut; wing, about 90 mm. ... Terpsiphone (p. 465)