Nominate race has crown and upperparts deep brown to rufous- brown whitish spot on side of forehead, brown side of head; wing dusky brown, remiges with outer webs edged rufous- brown, rufous spot near base of inner web ( except for outer four primaries); tail dusky brown, rectrices with outer webs tinged brownish- rufous; chin, throat and side of neck whitish, breast and flanks medium rusty brown, belly white, undertail- coverts pale rufous; underwing with pale stripe across bases of remiges; iris beown; bill black; legs grey or grey- brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult in having buffy- brown spotting on crown and side of head, rich rufous spotting on back and upperwing- coverts, and dark brown mottling on underparts, most heavily on breast; whitish loral spot initially absent. Race olivascentior has upperparts deeper brown with reduced rufous wash, white throat feathers tipped black, breast and flanks more greyish- brown; brevicauda has white on belly reduced.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has crown and upperparts deep brown to rufous- brown whitish spot on side of forehead, brown side of head; wing dusky brown, remiges with outer webs edged rufous- brown, rufous spot near base of inner web ( except for outer four primaries); tail dusky brown, rectrices with outer webs tinged brownish- rufous; chin, throat and side of neck whitish, breast and flanks medium rusty brown, belly white, undertail- coverts pale rufous; underwing with pale stripe across bases of remiges; iris beown; bill black; legs grey or grey- brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult in having buffy- brown spotting on crown and side of head, rich rufous spotting on back and upperwing- coverts, and dark brown mottling on underparts, most heavily on breast; whitish loral spot initially absent. Race olivascentior has upperparts deeper brown with reduced rufous wash, white throat feathers tipped black, breast and flanks more greyish- brown; brevicauda has white on belly reduced.
14- 15 cm; 30- 31 g
Taxonomy: Eupetes incertus Salvadori, 1876, Mount Arfak, New Guinea. Relationships of genus uncertain; formerly placed with thrushes (Turdidae), and possibly does not belong with present family. Birds from Huon Peninsula usually assigned to race brevicauda, but may be closer to olivascentior. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * incerta (Salvadori, 1876) - Arfak Mts, in NW New Guinea. * olivascentior E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - C North Coastal Range (Torricelli Mts) and mountains of C New Guinea E to Mt Karimui and perhaps to Aseki area of Morobe Province. * i. brevicauda (i. brevicauda De Vis, 1894) - mountains of Huon Peninsula and SE New Guinea.
Montane forest, mainly at 1200- 2750 m; down to 900 m in Araucaria forest.
Insects. Feeds on forest floor, making short runs interspersed with brief stops to glean; foraging pattern likened to that of a plover (Charadriidae).
Nest with single egg in mid- Oct and nest with hatching egg in early Jan; juvenile in Dec. Nest an open cup composed primarily of moss, with blades of grass and fine rootlets, lined with dry grasses, internal measurements 4 cm across and 3 cm deep, placed on ground close to moss- covered tree root and surrounded by fallen leaves, sticks, etc.; once 1,2 m above ground on bed of moss 5 cm deep in tree hole 30 cm deep, with opening on each side, tree diameter 20 cm. Clutch 1 egg, whitish, with a few small brownish- black spots mostly at larger end, or white fine chocolate- brown spotting all over, size 28 x 19,5 mm; no information on incubation and nestling periods.