Small aberrant flycatcher with distinctive plumage; unusually broad flat bill with distinct keel on upper mandible is shaped like an upturned rowing boat; tail appears rather long and remarkably narrow when cocked. Male nominate has glossy black head and dark olive upperparts, clear yellow supercilium; upperwing black, white wingbars formed by tips of greater and median upperwing-coverts, remiges with pale edgings (yellow on secondaries, white on tertials); tail black, outer feathers with narrow whitish edgings (showing as white outer tips); chin and upper throat white, lower throat and underparts rich yellow; iris dark brown; bill black; legs grey. Female is similar to male but much duller, black areas replaced by mottled dull olive-green, much paler yellow underparts with greyish barring or chevrons on breast and greyish mottling on flanks. Juvenile is very like a duller female, differing in wholly olive (not white) chin and upper throat, bolder greyish barring on breast; immature doubtfully distinguishable from adult. Races vary mostly in fairly minor details of plumage, though all four New Guinea races have black mask much reduced, and restricted to loral area: secundus differs from nominate in slightly longer tail, blacker above, brighter yellow below, broader white tips in wing, female lacks barring below; albifrons has more yellow on forehead, and white on underparts restricted to chin; xanthogenys has prominent yellow lower forehead and supercilium, and yellow cheek and ear-coverts; albigula and novus have supercilium white, not yellow, albigula being yellower (less orange) below than novus, and with more white on throat.
Not Threatened
Small aberrant flycatcher with distinctive plumage; unusually broad flat bill with distinct keel on upper mandible is shaped like an upturned rowing boat; tail appears rather long and remarkably narrow when cocked. Male nominate has glossy black head and dark olive upperparts, clear yellow supercilium; upperwing black, white wingbars formed by tips of greater and median upperwing-coverts, remiges with pale edgings (yellow on secondaries, white on tertials); tail black, outer feathers with narrow whitish edgings (showing as white outer tips); chin and upper throat white, lower throat and underparts rich yellow; iris dark brown; bill black; legs grey. Female is similar to male but much duller, black areas replaced by mottled dull olive-green, much paler yellow underparts with greyish barring or chevrons on breast and greyish mottling on flanks. Juvenile is very like a duller female, differing in wholly olive (not white) chin and upper throat, bolder greyish barring on breast; immature doubtfully distinguishable from adult. Races vary mostly in fairly minor details of plumage, though all four New Guinea races have black mask much reduced, and restricted to loral area: secundus differs from nominate in slightly longer tail, blacker above, brighter yellow below, broader white tips in wing, female lacks barring below; albifrons has more yellow on forehead, and white on underparts restricted to chin; xanthogenys has prominent yellow lower forehead and supercilium, and yellow cheek and ear-coverts; albigula and novus have supercilium white, not yellow, albigula being yellower (less orange) below than novus, and with more white on throat.
11 – 12.5 cm; 9 – 10 g
Taxonomy: Machaerirhynchus flaviventer Gould, 1851, Cape York, Australia. Relationships of genus uncertain; has been suggested that this species and M. nigripectus should be placed in a separate family of their own. Six subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * albifrons G. R. Gray, 1862 - Waigeo, in W Papuan Is. * albigula Mayr & Meyer de Schauensee, 1939 - W Papuan Is (Salawati, Misool) and W & NC New Guinea. * novus Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1912 - NE New Guinea. * xanthogenys G. R. Gray, 1858 - S & SE New Guinea and Aru Is. * flaviventer Gould, 1851 - N Australia (N & E Cape York Peninsula). * secundus Mathews, 1912 - NE Queensland (Shipton’s Flat inland to Atherton Tablelands, and S to Townsville area).
Rainforest, gallery forest, thick secondary growth and forest edge; mainly lowlands, locally to 1300 m.
Food insects. Seen singly or in pairs; often a member of mixed-species feeding flocks, including gerygones (Gerygone), Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha), Myzomela and Meliphaga honeyeaters, fantails (Rhipidura) Monarcha monarchs, and riflebirds (Ptiloris); often with Monarcha trivirgatus in Australia, and with Arses telescopthalmus and Monarcha guttula in New Guinea.
Breeds Aug – Mar in Australia; probably single-brooded. Nest built by both sexes, a small unusually frail, lace-like shallow basket of thin tendrils and rootlets, bound with cobwebs, suspended 2 – 20 m from ground in horizontal fork; eggs may be visible though nest walls, male may sing continually while building. Clutch 2 – 3 eggs, white with sparse reddish or purple spots, mostly at large end, 17,3 x 12,7 mm; incubation by both sexes, period probably at least 14 days; both also tend young, no information on nestling period. Nest readily deserted if disturbed.