Male nominate race has supercilium and side of face grey, crown dark rufous- brown with darker feather edgings (creating scalloped effect); nape, mantle and back dark down, each feather broadly edged with black on one web and with pale shaft streak (producing mottled appearence), rump dark rufous- brown; upperwing coverts black with broad pale grey tips (forming two wingbars); remiges grey- brown, becoming dark brown towards base, primaries with small buff spot on margin of leading web (forming wingbar on closed wing), secondaries with extensive buff- rufous edging, increasing in width inwards, outer web of tertials almost entirely buff- rufous; tail grey- brown; chin, throat and upper breast white with slight black border, breast side extensively dark grey (leaving only reduced white section along mid- line), lower breast and belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts olive- brown and grey; iris dark brown; bill black; legs blackish. Female like male, but somewhat brighter on upperparts, and with chin to upper breast orange- rufous, black border often absent. Juvenile is buffy brown above and below, feathers of back broadly edged blackish, feathers of underparts more narrowly dark- edged. Race dorsalis has black margins of upperpart feathers wider and breast side darker grey than nominate; victorianus has darker rump, reduced white below.
Not Threatened
Male nominate race has supercilium and side of face grey, crown dark rufous- brown with darker feather edgings (creating scalloped effect); nape, mantle and back dark down, each feather broadly edged with black on one web and with pale shaft streak (producing mottled appearence), rump dark rufous- brown; upperwing coverts black with broad pale grey tips (forming two wingbars); remiges grey- brown, becoming dark brown towards base, primaries with small buff spot on margin of leading web (forming wingbar on closed wing), secondaries with extensive buff- rufous edging, increasing in width inwards, outer web of tertials almost entirely buff- rufous; tail grey- brown; chin, throat and upper breast white with slight black border, breast side extensively dark grey (leaving only reduced white section along mid- line), lower breast and belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts olive- brown and grey; iris dark brown; bill black; legs blackish. Female like male, but somewhat brighter on upperparts, and with chin to upper breast orange- rufous, black border often absent. Juvenile is buffy brown above and below, feathers of back broadly edged blackish, feathers of underparts more narrowly dark- edged. Race dorsalis has black margins of upperpart feathers wider and breast side darker grey than nominate; victorianus has darker rump, reduced white below.
18,5 cm; male 53- 75 g, female 47- 58 g
Taxonomy: Orthonyx Novae Guineae A. B. Meyer, 1874, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Formerly considered conspecific with O. temminckii, but recent studies indicate significant genetic differences from latter, possibly even at genus level; also differs vocally. Genetic analysis suggests also the possibility that nominate race may be a separate species from dorsalis and victorianus; last two races sometimes merged. Racial identity of population recently found in EC New Guinea (Tari area, in Southern Highlands Province) unknown. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * novaeguineae A. B. Meyer, 1874 - Tamrau Mts and Arfak Mts, in NW New Guinea. * dorsalis Rand, 1940 - Nassau and Oranje Ranges, in WC New Guinea. * victorianus van Oort, 1909 - Herzog Mts and Wharton Range, in E New Guinea.
Mainly upper montane forest at 1980- 2840 m, possibly to 3450 m; localy down to 1200 m in W of range
Insects and other invertebrates. Forages on forest floor; few data on behaviour.
Nests with egg in Mar and late Nov, juveniles in Sept and Nov, and male in breeding condition in late Apr. Nest a small, rounded dome with side entrance, built of moss, root fibres and plant stems, with inner lining of thickly woven soft fibres, external diameter c. 12- 7 cm, placed on ground. Clutch 1 egg, plain white, 29- 33- 6 x 22- 22- 7 mm; No information on incubation and nestling periods.