Systematics

Heinrichia calligyna is here afforded its own genus, a position followed by all four global taxonomic checklists (3 Dickinson, E. C., and L. Christidis, Editors (2014). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 4th edition. Volume 2: Passerines. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close , 4 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 5 Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close , 6 Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen, Editors (2020). IOC World Bird List v10.1. Close ), as well as regional checklists (2 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close ) and field guides (7 Holmes, D. A., and K. Phillipps (1996). The Birds of Sulawesi. Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Oxford, UK. Close , 8 Coates, B. J., and K. D. Bishop (1997). A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea: Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Close , 1 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2016). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). However, the species was historically, and erroneously, believed to be related to the much smaller Brachypteryx shortwings (see Related Species), and S. D. Ripley in Mayr and Paynter (10 Mayr, E., and R. A. Paynter, Editors (1964). Check-list of Birds of the World: A Continuation of the Work of James L. Peters. Volume 10. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA, USA. Close ) placed Heinrichia in the synonymy of Brachypteryx.

Usually considered a single species (11 Stresemann, E., and G. Heinrich (1940). Die Vögel von Celebes. Part 3 (Passeres). Systematik und Biologie. Journal für Ornithologie 88(1):1–135. Close , 2 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close , 7 Holmes, D. A., and K. Phillipps (1996). The Birds of Sulawesi. Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Oxford, UK. Close , 12 Inskipp, T., N. Lindsey, and W. Duckworth (1996). An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region. Oriental Bird Club, Sandy, UK. Close , 3 Dickinson, E. C., and L. Christidis, Editors (2014). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 4th edition. Volume 2: Passerines. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close , 13 Clement, P., and C. Rose (2015). Robins and Chats. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. Close , 5 Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close , 6 Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen, Editors (2020). IOC World Bird List v10.1. Close , 9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ), however the striking differences in female plumage have often been noticed as an indication of greater species diversity. Indeed, del Hoyo & Collar (4 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ) chose to separate simplex as a monotypic species, and further noted that picta might prove specifically distinct too. Although Eaton et al. (9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ) maintained the complex as a single species, they also commented that ‘radical differences in fem[ale] plumage indicate likely presence of at least three monotypic species’. However, the vocalizations of simplex are apparently still unknown, and the affinity of populations in north-central and eastern Sulawesi remain uncertain (14 Rheindt, F. E., D. W. Prawiradilaga, S. Suparno, H. Ashari, and P. R. Wilton (2014). New and significant island records, range extensions and elevational extensions of birds in eastern Sulawesi, its nearby satellites, and Ternate. Treubia 41:61–90. Close , 9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Although males differ little across the geographic range, females change radically with no obvious pattern of clinality. In the north, females are chiefly olive-brown, whilst birds in central Sulawesi are mostly blue, and those in the south are somewhat intermediate. These differences are principally exhibited in the upperparts and underparts coloration.

Three well-marked subspecies are recognized.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Great Shortwing (Minahasa) Heinrichia calligyna simplex Scientific name definitions

• eBird map
• 0 photos
• 0 recordings

Systematics History

Heinrichia calligyna simplex Stresemann, 1931, Ornithologische Monatsberichte 39:81.—Matinan Mountains [01°04’N, 121°40’E], North Sulawesi. (15 Stresemann, E. (1931). Vorläufiges über die ornithologischen Ergebnisse der Expedition Heinrich 1930-1931. Ornithologische Monatsberichte 39:7–14, 44–47, 77–85, 102–105, 167–171. Close )

The holotype is an adult female, collected at Ile-Ile (1,700 m) on 11 November 1930, by Gerd Heinrich, and held at the American Museum of Natural History, New York (AMNH 292816) (16 LeCroy, M. (2005). Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 6. Passeriformes: Prunellidae, Turdidae, Orthonychidae, Timaliidae, Paradoxornithidae, Picathartidae, and Polioptilidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 292:1–127. Close ). One paratype is another adult female taken at the same locality on 6 November 1930, also by Gerd Heinrich, held at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands (RMNH 7207) (17 Dekker, R. W. R. J. (2003). Type specimens of birds in the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden. Part 2. Passerines: Eurylaimidae–Eopsaltriidae (Peters’s sequence). NNM Technical Bulletin 6, Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden. Close ). The other paratypes were all originally also in New York, AMNH 292807–292815, 292817, and 292818; however, AMNH 292811 was exchanged with the Yale Peabody Museum in January 1950, and AMNH 292813 was presented by Heinrich’s principal sponsor, Leonard C. Sanford, to Prof. Sarasin, Basel, on 26 October 1932 (16 LeCroy, M. (2005). Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 6. Passeriformes: Prunellidae, Turdidae, Orthonychidae, Timaliidae, Paradoxornithidae, Picathartidae, and Polioptilidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 292:1–127. Close ).

Distribution

Confined to the Tentolo-Matinan Mts on the Minahasa Peninsula, in North Sulawesi (2 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close ).

Field Identification

Male plumage is very similar to that of H. c. calligyna, but with a dark blue vent and undertail-coverts. The female has an olive-brown head and upperparts (including the rump, wings,and tail). The white pre-ocular spot contrasts with the chocolate-brown chin and throat to breast, and grayish-white to dark gray belly (13 Clement, P., and C. Rose (2015). Robins and Chats. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. Close , 4 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

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EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Great Shortwing (Great) Heinrichia calligyna calligyna/picta

Available illustrations of subspecies in this group

• eBird map
• 7 photos
• 3 recordings

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SUBSPECIES

Heinrichia calligyna calligyna Scientific name definitions

Systematics History

Heinrichia calligyna calligyna Stresemann, 1931, Ornithologische Monatsberichte 39:9.—Latimojong Mountains, 1,600 m [03°30’S, 120°05’E], Sulawesi. (15 Stresemann, E. (1931). Vorläufiges über die ornithologischen Ergebnisse der Expedition Heinrich 1930-1931. Ornithologische Monatsberichte 39:7–14, 44–47, 77–85, 102–105, 167–171. Close )

The holotype, an adult male, collected on 28 July 1930 by Gerd Heinrich, is held at the American Museum of Natural History, New York (AMNH 292803); AMNH 292802 and 292804–292806 are paratypes, and additional paratypes are held in Berlin, at the Museum für Naturkunde (ZMB) (16 LeCroy, M. (2005). Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 6. Passeriformes: Prunellidae, Turdidae, Orthonychidae, Timaliidae, Paradoxornithidae, Picathartidae, and Polioptilidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 292:1–127. Close ).

Distribution

Definitely recorded solely from the original collecting locality in the Latimodjong Mts, south-central Sulawesi. Birds in Lore Lindu National Park (north-central Sulawesi) are currently considered to belong to this subspecies, but reportedly have a chestnut lower belly (9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Those on Mt Tumpu are also tentatively ascribed to this taxon (14 Rheindt, F. E., D. W. Prawiradilaga, S. Suparno, H. Ashari, and P. R. Wilton (2014). New and significant island records, range extensions and elevational extensions of birds in eastern Sulawesi, its nearby satellites, and Ternate. Treubia 41:61–90. Close ).

Field Identification

Described under Plumages.

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SUBSPECIES

Heinrichia calligyna picta Scientific name definitions

Systematics History

Heinrichia calligyna picta Stresemann, 1931, Ornithologische Monatsberichte 40:108.—Tanke Salokko, Mengkoka [=Mekkonga] Mountains, above 4,900 ft. [03°39’S, 121°15’E], southeast Sulawesi. (15 Stresemann, E. (1931). Vorläufiges über die ornithologischen Ergebnisse der Expedition Heinrich 1930-1931. Ornithologische Monatsberichte 39:7–14, 44–47, 77–85, 102–105, 167–171. Close )

The type series is held at the American Museum of Natural History, New York): the holotype (AMNH 299585) is an adult female, collected on 23 December 1931 by Gerd Heinrich, and the following paratypes are also present in the collection, AMNH 299579–299584 and 299586 (16 LeCroy, M. (2005). Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 6. Passeriformes: Prunellidae, Turdidae, Orthonychidae, Timaliidae, Paradoxornithidae, Picathartidae, and Polioptilidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 292:1–127. Close ).

Distribution

Endemic to the Mengkoka Mts, southeast Sulawesi (2 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close ).

Field Identification

Larger than both other taxa, and in plumage most similar to H. c. simplex. Compared to the latter, male has a larger bill and rufous base to tail feathers (unlike H. c. calligyna, it also has a bluish-black vent and undertail-coverts). The female has dull gray-blue upperparts (with a concolorous rump), and richer, more rufous-chestnut, throat, breast, vent, and undertail-coverts. The belly patch is a slightly darker slate-blue (2 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close , 9 Eaton, J. A., B. van Balen, N. W. Brickle, and F. E. Rheindt (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Long thought to be closely related to the smaller Brachypteryx shortwings (hence the long-standing English name used here), despite substantial differences in morphology and plumage pattern. Molecular data have since recovered a non-sister relationship between these two groups, with Heinrichia instead forming a monophyletic clade with Rusty-flanked Jungle-Flycatcher (Vauriella insignis) (18 Sangster, G., P. Alström, E. Forsmark, and U. Olsson (2010). Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57(1):380–392. Close ).

No information.