Male nominate race has head and neck black, upperparts brownish- black, rump somewhat paler and greyer; upperwing and tail brownish- black, remiges and wing- coverts edged pale grey on outer webs; chin, throat and upper breast black, remainder of underparts white; iris dark brown; legs dark grey or black. Female has body largely blackish- grey, throat and lower breast slightly paler, belly white. Probably at least two immature plumages, at least for males; first immature much browner, with underparts streaked. Race lugubris has upperparts blacker than nominate.
Not Threatened
Male nominate race has head and neck black, upperparts brownish- black, rump somewhat paler and greyer; upperwing and tail brownish- black, remiges and wing- coverts edged pale grey on outer webs; chin, throat and upper breast black, remainder of underparts white; iris dark brown; legs dark grey or black. Female has body largely blackish- grey, throat and lower breast slightly paler, belly white. Probably at least two immature plumages, at least for males; first immature much browner, with underparts streaked. Race lugubris has upperparts blacker than nominate.
15- 16 cm; 24- 28 g
Taxonomy: Pachycephala ? monacha G. R. Gray, 1858, Aru Islands. Forms a superspecies with P. griseonota, P. rufiventris, P. leucogastra and P. arctitorquis. Sometimes treated as conspecific with last three of these; in SE New Guinea, hybridizes with P. leucogastra on Sogeri Plateau and in R Angabunga area (from Bereina to Mafulu). Race lugubris commonly referred to as dorsalis, but former name has priority. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * monacha G. R. Gray, 1858 - Aru Is, off SW New Guinea.*lugubris Salvadori, 1878 - patchily in New Guinea mountains from Charles Louis Mts, mouth of R Mimika and R Utanata, Snow and Victor Emanuel Ranges, and N base of Bewani Mts, R Puwani and Saruwaged Mts E to Owen Stanley Mts
Forest edges and ecologically disturbed areas, such as plantation, gardens, villages, and groves of tall trees, especially casuarinas (Casuarina), in cleared areas; at 550- 1980 m, mainly above 1000 m, locally in lowlands (R Mimika River, N base of Bewani Mts).
Insects, including caterpillars. Forages in upper and middle levels. Prey captured mainly by gleaning from twigs and leaves, occasionally by sallying.
Nest under construction in mid- Oct, and nest with incubating female in mid- Jun. Nest a substantial cup of plant material, placed 6- 25 m from ground in fork of branch. No other information.