Male has large yellow area on side of head (encompassing cheek and ear-coverts); rest of head, side of lower neck, throat and bib on upper breast black; upperparts olive-green, uppertail-coverts blue-grey; flight-feathers black with green edges, tertials each with prominent pale yellow terminal spot on outer web; upper surface of tail blue-grey, becoming darker towards tip; underparts below bib bright yellow, large central area on abdomen burnt orange; iris dark olive-brown; bill black; legs greyish-brown to dark brown. Female is obscure-looking, but with diagnostic yellow spotting on tertials (as in male) and scalloping on flanks; top of head olive-green with or without indistinct darker mottling, yellower on cap and sides of neck, rest of upper surface similar to that of male; cheek and ear-coverts grey, lightly mottled whitish, throat and bib (on upper breast) plain grey, lower breast and flanks yellow with dusky scalloping, abdomen yellowish-white with obscure dusky scalloping; iris brownish-grey; bill black; legs grey-brown to light brown or pale grey. Juvenile and immeture are similar to female.
Not Threatened
Male has large yellow area on side of head (encompassing cheek and ear-coverts); rest of head, side of lower neck, throat and bib on upper breast black; upperparts olive-green, uppertail-coverts blue-grey; flight-feathers black with green edges, tertials each with prominent pale yellow terminal spot on outer web; upper surface of tail blue-grey, becoming darker towards tip; underparts below bib bright yellow, large central area on abdomen burnt orange; iris dark olive-brown; bill black; legs greyish-brown to dark brown. Female is obscure-looking, but with diagnostic yellow spotting on tertials (as in male) and scalloping on flanks; top of head olive-green with or without indistinct darker mottling, yellower on cap and sides of neck, rest of upper surface similar to that of male; cheek and ear-coverts grey, lightly mottled whitish, throat and bib (on upper breast) plain grey, lower breast and flanks yellow with dusky scalloping, abdomen yellowish-white with obscure dusky scalloping; iris brownish-grey; bill black; legs grey-brown to light brown or pale grey. Juvenile and immeture are similar to female.
12-14 cm; 16.5-21.7 g
Taxonomy: Parus (?) Arfaki A. B. Meyer, 1875, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. O. stictoptera is a synonym of current name for this species. Affinities of this genus and Paramythia have long been uncertain; traditionally placed in flowerpecker family (Dicaeidae), and suggested by some authors as being aberrant bulbuls (Pycnonotidae), while present species initially thought possibly to belong with the tits (Paridae); recently, both genera included with berrypeckers and longbills in family Melanocharitidae. Both, however, are well differentiated from these other families in external morphology and in aspects of nidification, and molecular-genetic analyses also support treatment as a separate family. Present species exhibits widespread individual variation; proposed race bloodi (Western Highlands) unwarranted. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
- Mountains of New Guinea: Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts), Wandammen Mts, Gauttier Mts, Torricelli Mts, Central Ranges, and mountains of Huon Peninsula.
Montane forest, especially mossy forest; also visits disturbed and partly cleared habitat. Mainly between 2000 m and 2800 m, occasionally as low as 850 m and as high as 3650 m.
Diet as indicated by stomach contents entirely small fruits. Observed to probe a flower, and reported also as feeding on blossoms of a stinging tree. Fruits, from a variety of trees and shrubs, usually swallowed whole. Moves about in pairs, in small groups and in loose flocks of five to 30 or more individuals. Visits various fruiting trees, shrubs and plants, including Schefflera, a Pipturus tree and a Nothocnide wine. Forages mostly in canopy but also at middle level of forest, and occasionally in forest-edge shrubbery.
Few data collected to date. In W part of range, two males with wnlarged gonads in Oct and Feb; in E males with wnlarged gonads in Aug-Oct, female in breeding condition in Oct, and fledged young observed in Jul. Nest reported as cup-shaped, composed of moss; incubation said to be undertaken by both sexes; two fledglings seen to be fed by both parents. No other information available.