This species is known from the types only.
18. PHAPITRERON BRUNNEICEPS Bourns and Worcester.
Phabotreron brunneiceps Bourns and Worcester, Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1, 9; Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 55. Phapitreron brunneiceps McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 10; McGregor, Phil. Jour. Sci. (1907), 2, sec. A, 281.
"Adult.--Above dark brown with greenish reflections; amethystine spot on hind neck less blue than in P. amethystina; top of head brown, forehead slightly lighter and nape slightly darker than crown; sides of face and ear-coverts brown, paler than crown; a narrow, dark brown streak under eye; chin and throat grayish fulvous; breast pearly ash; abdomen, flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ochraceous-brown; under surface of tail brownish black with a broad, gray, terminal band; under wing-coverts and axillars fulvous-brown; primaries with sharply defined light edges on upper web; below slightly more ashy; tail-feathers brown above with distinct terminal bands of gray, central pair with slight metallic gloss; shafts of quills black above and below except the terminal 15 mm. which are white. Bill black; feet dark pink; nails brown; iris orange-red. Length, 255; wing, 132; tail, 89; culmen, 24; tarsus, 18. A well-defined species distinguished from P. amethystina by its smaller size and the entirely different color of its under surface." (Bourns and Worcester.)
This species is very distinct from P. amethystina being smaller and differently colored. A male measures: Length, 267; wing, 135; tail, 100; culmen from base, 25.
19. PHAPITRERON FRONTALIS Bourns and Worcester.
Phabotreron frontalis Bourns and Worcester, Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1, 10; Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 55. Phapitreron frontalis McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 10.
"Adult.--General color of upper surface as in P. brunneiceps but forehead and crown lighter, nape washed with ashy gray, and lacking metallic gloss; tail glossed with dull bronze instead of amethystine and the terminal band less strongly marked than in brunneiceps; under surface much as in brunneiceps but everywhere darker; under tail-coverts ashy gray, slightly tipped with fulvous; tail much as in brunneiceps, the outer web of outer pair of feathers being, however, light brown; basal half of shafts dirty whitish; apical fourth white, rest brown. Iris pale orange; bill black; legs and feet purple; nails light brown. Sexes alike. Length, 260; wing, 140; tail, 100; culmen, 51; tarsus, 21." (Bourns and Worcester.)