Colourization Adult: P.m. modesta: male- dark brown forehead, lores and crown; dull olive/yellow nape and hindneck, the feathers margined with brown; olive/brown head, turning paler on throat and breast; red undertail coverts; green upperparts, the feathers finely edged with black; green uppertail. Bill blue/grey tipped with white. Eye orange. Female- brown head; orange breast, the feathers widely margined dark brown; yellow and green/brown barring on sides of abdomen. P.m. collaris: male- as in modesta, but has irregular yellow collar below brown on hindneck; red/brown tinge on throat and sides of head. Female- as in modesta, but with faint yellow markings on hindneck. P.m. subcollaris: male- as in collaris, but with thinner, brighter yellow collar on hindneck; darker brown head; darker green upperparts. Female- as in modesta, but darker brown head; some birds have faint yellow collar on hindneck. Colourization Juvenile: P.m. modesta: as in adult female. P.m. collaris: as in adult female. P.m. subcollaris: as in adult female. Call: Calls are described as soft and plaintive peeps.
Not Threatened.
Colourization Adult: P.m. modesta: male- dark brown forehead, lores and crown; dull olive/yellow nape and hindneck, the feathers margined with brown; olive/brown head, turning paler on throat and breast; red undertail coverts; green upperparts, the feathers finely edged with black; green uppertail. Bill blue/grey tipped with white. Eye orange. Female- brown head; orange breast, the feathers widely margined dark brown; yellow and green/brown barring on sides of abdomen. P.m. collaris: male- as in modesta, but has irregular yellow collar below brown on hindneck; red/brown tinge on throat and sides of head. Female- as in modesta, but with faint yellow markings on hindneck. P.m. subcollaris: male- as in collaris, but with thinner, brighter yellow collar on hindneck; darker brown head; darker green upperparts. Female- as in modesta, but darker brown head; some birds have faint yellow collar on hindneck. Colourization Juvenile: P.m. modesta: as in adult female. P.m. collaris: as in adult female. P.m. subcollaris: as in adult female. Call: Calls are described as soft and plaintive peeps.
14 cm. 42 g.
Taxonomy:
- Psitacella [sic] modesta Schlegel, 1873, mountainous interior, 4000-5000 feet (c. 1200-1500 m), west coast of Geelvink Bay = Arfak Mountains. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * modesta Schlegel, 1873 - Vogelkop, NW New Guinea. * subcollaris Rand, 1941 - N slopes of Snow Mts E to C Papua New Guinea. * collaris Ogilvie-Grant, 1914 - S slopes of Snow Mts.
Found from 1700-2800m in montane rainforest, moss forest, forest edge and secondary growth forest.
Diet includes seeds and small fruits.
June, no further info. Is a quiet bird found singly or in pairs, creeping slowly through the mid or lower storey forest. Is fairly approachable in the wild, only flying a short distance away when disturbed. Resident.