Medium sized aberrant flycatcher; unusually shaped large flattened bill with distinct keel on upper mandible is shaped like an upturned rowing boat. Male nominate race is glossy black above, with bright yellow side of face, black lores; two broad white wingbars formed by tips of median and greater upperwing-coverts, secondaries edged whitish; tail black, white edges and tips on outer feathers; chin, throat and underparts golden-yellow, large black spot or patch in centre of breast; iris dark brown; bill black, sometimes white tip; legs grey-brown to black. Female is like male but duller, with narrow yellow supercilium and black eyestripe, less rich yellow below, smaller black breast patch. Juvenile resembles a dull scruffy adult with brownish feather tips, no breast patch, underparts blotched and mottled with black on dull pale yellow; immature very dull yellow below, breast patch just a few dark feathers. Races exhibit minor plumage variation: female harterti has greyer upperparts than others.
Not Threatened
Medium sized aberrant flycatcher; unusually shaped large flattened bill with distinct keel on upper mandible is shaped like an upturned rowing boat. Male nominate race is glossy black above, with bright yellow side of face, black lores; two broad white wingbars formed by tips of median and greater upperwing-coverts, secondaries edged whitish; tail black, white edges and tips on outer feathers; chin, throat and underparts golden-yellow, large black spot or patch in centre of breast; iris dark brown; bill black, sometimes white tip; legs grey-brown to black. Female is like male but duller, with narrow yellow supercilium and black eyestripe, less rich yellow below, smaller black breast patch. Juvenile resembles a dull scruffy adult with brownish feather tips, no breast patch, underparts blotched and mottled with black on dull pale yellow; immature very dull yellow below, breast patch just a few dark feathers. Races exhibit minor plumage variation: female harterti has greyer upperparts than others.
13 – 15 cm; 11 – 12.5 g
Taxonomy: Macheirhynchus [sic] nigripectus Schlegel, 1871, interior of Vogelkop = Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Relationships of genus uncertain; has been suggested that this species and M. flaviventer should be placed in a separate family of their own. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * nigripectus Schlegel, 1871 - mountains of Vogelkop, in NW New Guinea. * saturatus Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1913 - mountains of C New Guinea. * harterti van Oort, 1909 - mountains of Huon Peninsula and SE New Guinea.
Montane and submontane forest, forest edge and secondary growth, from 850 m to tree-line at 2750 m; commonest at middle altitudes. Also bushes in native gardens close to forest.
Insectivorous; takes small flies (Diptera), beetles (Coleptera) and small wasps (Hymenoptera). Joins mixed-species feeding flocks with Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhynchus), fantails (Rhipidura) and Melidectes honeyeaters. Hunts by flycatching and gleaning in middle to upper stages of forest, sometimes in substage and sometimes high in canopy.
Recorded in Nov – Jan and also Jun, varying with locality, suggesting breeding during main rains. Nest a neat cup of fibres and moss, bound with cobwebs and decorated with lichen, placed on horizontal branch 3 – 9 m above ground. Clutch usually 2 eggs. No other information.