Adult Male
The crown is black tinged with yellowish-green, with very thin white streaks and a relatively broad central stripe of chestnut-brown. The feathers around the eyes and a short streak at the ear are chestnut-brown; the feathers adjacent to this streak are darker than other feathers on the head. Before the brown eyes, there are fine, speckled black and white markings. The upper back and shoulders are brown tinged with dark yellowish-green. The outer vanes of the shoulder feathers are chestnut-brown, forming two long stripes on either side of the back. The lower back, flanks, and upper tail are greyish-violet, with fine black streaks and small white spots. The tail feathers have chestnut-brown markings. The tail feathers are also similar in color, with chestnut-brown tips. The upper wing coverts and tertiary feathers are brown-yellowish-green, glossy, and have black and fine chestnut markings, with some broad bands and chestnut streaks on the outer part of the wing.
The flight feathers are greyish-blue, slightly tinged with violet, with fine black streaks. The primary feathers have broad black and chestnut bands interspersed on the outer vane; the innermost primary feathers and secondary feathers only have chestnut bands. The chin and neck vary from brown to white. The breast and flanks are brown, with the feathers on the flanks tinged with white, while the feathers on the lower breast are bordered with dark brown, clearly distinguishing them from the white belly and undertail. A chestnut or white band with a black border connects from the breast to the shoulder. The axilla is white.
Adult Female
The eye ring and short streak at the ear are white. The chin, throat, and upper breast are bright chestnut. A broad band across the breast is blackish-brown, followed by a white band and then a brown band. The shoulders and back have no chestnut streaks; the wing coverts and tertiary feathers are glossy yellow-green with fine black streaks and some chestnut tinges. The rest of the plumage is similar to the male. In general, the female’s plumage is darker and more beautiful than the male’s. The eyes are dark brown. The beak is pinkish-brown, the base is pale green. The legs are pale yellow or yellowish-green, sometimes brown or greyish-blue.
Measurements
- Wing (male): 115 – 136 mm, (female): 130 – 147 mm
- Tail: 36 – 45 mm
- Tarsus: 40 – 45 mm
- Bill (male): 41 – 47 mm, (female): 45 – 50 mm
Distribution
Found in South Asia, from central China, Japan to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Africa.
In Vietnam, this species is found throughout most regions, from mountainous areas to plains, but in small numbers.