Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) [XC890557]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Ang Ka Summit Trail, Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand (song)
Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) [XC188044]
by Woraphot Bunkhwamdi from KM34.5 Ridge Fork, Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand (song)
Subspecies
Heterophasia melanoleuca (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Black-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) and Black-eared Sibia (Heterophasia desgodinsi) following Collar (2006).
Until recently treated as conspecific with Black-eared Sibia (Heterophasia desgodinsi). Subspecies radcliffei and castanopterus intergrade in east-central Myanmar (Southern Shan States). Birds in western Thailand of undetermined subspecies, presumed to belong with nominate subspecies of adjacent part of Myanmar.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
radcliffei (Baker, ECS, 1922) - East-central and eastern Myanmar, north-western Thailand and north-western Laos.
castanopterus Salvadori, 1889 - South-eastern Myanmar (Southern Shan State and Karenni State).
melanoleucus (Blyth, 1859) - Northern Tenasserim (southern Myanmar) and adjacent western Thailand.