Black-throated Honeyeater
Other common names: Black-fronted/Sub-bridled Honeyeater
Nominate race has forehead grey, top of head and neck olivetinged grey-brown, diffusely streaked or mottled darker, lorest and rest of head and neck grayish-black, with distinctive facial patterns of prominent swollen yellow gape narrowly joining broad crescent/shaped patch of bare golden-yellow to dull yellow skin that curves up behind eye, this patch bordered below by black, white and golden-yellow streak arising beneath eye-coverts to side of neck, large irregular white to off-white patch on side of neck, and diffuse off-white to yellowish patch or fine streaking on side of lower throat, upperparts olive/brown, yellow-olive wash on outer webs of upperwing-coverts, dull yellow-olive outer edges of remiges.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has forehead grey, top of head and neck olive tinged grey-brown, diffusely streaked or mottled darker, lowest and rest of head and neck greyish-black, with distinctive facial patterns of prominent swollen yellow gape narrowly joining broad crescent/shaped patch of bare golden-yellow to dull yellow skin that curves up behind eye, this patch bordered below by black, white and golden-yellow streak arising beneath eye-coverts to side of neck, large irregular white to off-white patch on side of neck, and diffuse off-white to yellowish patch or fine streaking on side of lower throat, upperparts olive/brown, yellow-olive wash on outer webs of upperwing- coverts, dull yellow-olive outer edges of remiges. Dull yellow/olive outer edges of rectrices, underbody paler and browner than under parts, merging to paler olive-brown with off-white mottling in centre of belly, and with diffuse darker mottling through-out, undertail and underwing grey-brown, buff underwing-coverts and bases of remiges, iris grey to dark brown, black eye ring bill black, legs bright to dull yellow. Sexes alike in plumage, male larger than female. Juvenile is not properly known, very like adult slightly warmer brown (and less olive) above and below. Races mainly in tone of plumed, nominate palest, melanolaemus is somewhat darker than nominate, top of head and neck darker olive/brown, lores and rest of head and neck. Utakwenisi is similar to last but more olive toned.
20.5-22 cm, male 29-36 g, and female 25-29 g (melanolaemus), male 32-37 g and female 26-28 g (salvadorii)
Taxonomy: Ptilotis subfrenata Salvadori, 1876, Hatam, Arfak Mountains, Vogelkop, north-west New Guinea. Genus often subsumed in Meliphaga. Present species sometimes placed in Oreornis. Forms a distinctive species group with L. obscurus, L. frenatus, L. hindwoodi and L. chrysops, and all sometimes combined in a separate genus, Caligavis. Meliphaga albilineata and Meliphaga fordiana once considered to be closely related to present species. Geographical variation partly clinal, plumage becoming darker from W to E. Four subspecies recognized.
(source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
subfrenatus (Salvadori, 1876) - Arfak Mts, in NW New Guinea.
utakwensis (Ogilvie-Grant, 1915) - Weyland Mts and S slopes of Central Ranges (including Nassau Mts and Oranje Mts) E to Hindenburg Range, in WC New Guinea.
melanolaemus (Reichenow, 1915) - N slopes of Central Ranges (including Nassau and Oranje Ranges) E to Victor Emanuel and Schrader Ranges.
salvadorii (E. J. O. Hartert, 1896) - mountains of E New Guinea (E from Wharton, Bismarck, Kubor and Saruwaged Ranges).
Primary forest montane, including moss forest, forest edge, secondary growt and subalpine shrubland, and bordered by open Dacrycarpus woodland and some stands of mossy upper montane forest in sheltered areas. Occurs to tree line. Typically from 1350 m to 3700 m, more commonly above 2000m, but as low as 1070 m in Huon peninsula.
Diet includes nectar, small arthropds and fruit. Forages mainly in canopy, but will descend to substrate up to 3 m above ground and rarely, to understorey, once seen on ground. Takes nectar from flowering trees, insect mainly gleaned from outer outer foliage and twigs of canopy. Usually singly, sometimes associated in flowering trees with other species.
Adults feeding fledglings in mid/Nov in Star Mts. Adults carrying nesting material and females with enlarged gonads. Apr, Jun-Sept and early wet season, and single breeding birds Oct and Nov. No further information.