SITTELLA LEUCOPTERA, Gould. 
White-winged Sittella. 
Sittella leucoptera, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 144. 
The present bird, which is a native of the northern parts of Australia, is a perfect representative of the 
Sittella chrysoptera of the south coast, to which species it is most nearly allied. The contrasted style of its 
plumage, together with the white spot in the wings, sufficiently distinguish it from every other species of 
the genus yet discovered. It is found in the Cobourg Peninsula, but is nowhere very abundant : it is mostly 
met with in small families of from four to twelve in number. Its note, actions and general habits are 
precisely similar to those of the other members of the genus. 
The sexes differ from each other in the markings of the head ; the male has the summit only black, while 
the female has the whole of the head and ear-coverts of that colour. 
The male has the forehead, crown of the head and occiput deep black ; wings black, with a broad band 
of white crossing the primaries near the base ; tail black, the lateral feathers tipped with white ; throat, 
under surface and upper tail-coverts white ; under tail-coverts white, with a spot of black near the tip of 
each feather ; back greyish brown, the centre of each feather streaked with blackish brown ; irides ochre- 
yellow ; eyelash straw-yellow ; bill straw-yellow, tipped with black ; legs and feet lemon-yellow. 
The Plate represents the two sexes and an immature bird of the natural size. 
