Drymodes superciliaris colcloughi Mathews, 1914
Roper River scrub robin, Allied scrub robin
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
The validity of this taxon is disputed (Storr, 1967:70; Schodde & Mason, 1999). Although described as coming from the Roper River region, there are suspicions that the two known specimens may in fact originate from Cape York Peninsula, and hence be examples of the nominate subspecies. The questionable type locality aside, debate therefore centres on the morphological distinctiveness of this subspecies. Apart from Mathew's original description, Bennett (1983) agrees that the subspecies is valid, while (Schodde & Mason, 1999) disagree. Until there is some kind of consensus on the matter I shall retain the taxon here pending further investigation.
Conservation Status
Invalid (synonym)?
Last record: 1910 (Mathews, 1914)
Distribution
Roper River area, Northern Territory, Australia
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Original scientific description:
Mathews, G. M. (1914). Additions and corrections to my List of the Birds of Australia. The Austral Avian Record 2(5): 83-107.
Other references:
Bennett, Simon. (1983). The Northern Scrub-robin Drymodes superciliaris in the Northern Territory. Emu 83: 105-107.
Garnett, Stephen (ed.). (1992). Threatened and Extinct Birds of Australia. RAOU Report Number 82. 212 pp.
Garnett, Stephen T. and Crowley, G. M. (2000). The action plan for Australian Birds 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia.
Mack, G. (1953). Birds from Cape York Peninsula. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 13: 1-39.
Mathews, Gregory M. (1921-1922). The Birds of Australia, volume 9. London: Witherby & Co.
Parker, Shane A. (1970). Critical notes on the status of some Northern Territory birds. South Australian Ornithologist 29: 115-125.
Schodde, R. and Mason, I. J. (1999). The directory of Australian birds: passerines. Melbourne: CSIRO.
Storr, G. M. (1967). List of Northern Territory Birds. Western Australian Museum Special Publications No. 4. Perth: Western Australian Museum. 90 pp.
http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/10868/northern_scrubrobin_dd.pdf