Nominate race has crown and side of head (to below orbit) and upperparts brown, tinged rufous, uppertail- coverts rufous; remiges dusky brown, edged light brown, upperwing- coverts brown, tinged rufous; tail rufous; light rusty buff below, throat paler; iris white, whitish- buff or straw- coloured; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Immature is similar to adult, but iris dark. Race leucorhynchus is much darker than nominate, with bill greyish- white; fuscus is similar but darker, particularly on upperparts; brevipennis is also darker than nominate, but paler than previous two, with bill black; holerythrus is darker than last; clarus is paler than nominate.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has crown and side of head (to below orbit) and upperparts brown, tinged rufous, uppertail- coverts rufous; remiges dusky brown, edged light brown, upperwing- coverts brown, tinged rufous; tail rufous; light rusty buff below, throat paler; iris white, whitish- buff or straw- coloured; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Immature is similar to adult, but iris dark. Race leucorhynchus is much darker than nominate, with bill greyish- white; fuscus is similar but darker, particularly on upperparts; brevipennis is also darker than nominate, but paler than previous two, with bill black; holerythrus is darker than last; clarus is paler than nominate.
25.5- 28.5 cm; 77- 110 g
Taxonomy: Rectes ferrugineus Bonaparate, 1850, Lobo, Triton Bay, west New Guinea. Six subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * leucorhynchus ( G. R. Gray, 1862) - N West Papuan Is (Waigeo I). * fuscus Greenway, 1966 - Batanta, S of Waigeo. * ferrugineus ( Bonaparte, 1850) - islands of Salawati and Misool, and NW mainland New Guinea from Vogelkop E to Wandammen and Etna Bay, and S slopes of Nassau Mts and Oranje Mts. * holerythrus ( Salvadori, 1878) - Yapen I (in Geelvink Bay) and N New Guinea E at least Humboldt Bay area (and presumably Vanimo). * brevipennis ( E. J. O. Hartert, 1896) - Aru Is. * clarus ( A. B. Meyer, 1894) - S & E New Guinea.
Rainforest, monsoon forest, gallery forest, tall secondary growth, sometimes extending into disturbed areas and teak (Tectona) plantations adjacent to forest edge. Lowlands and hills to 800 m, locally to 1100 m. FOOD: Insects (including larvae) and fruit. Frequents understorey to lower canopy. Feeds in flocks, with or without other species. Foraging heights when feeding alone differ from those when with mixed- species flock, latter also different when New Guinea Babbler (Pomatostomus isidorei) present; individually, 58% of foraging in main canopy, 21% in subcanopy and 21% in understorey; in mixed flocks with babblers, 48% in canopy, 30% in subcanopy and 22% in understorey, but without babblers respective figures are 78%, 11% and 11%. Captures prey by gleaning and snatching from surface of leaves, bark, vine and accumulated debris in trees; rarely feeds on ground.
Insects (including larvae) and fruit. Frequents understorey to lower canopy. Feeds in flocks, with or without other species. Foraging heights when feeding alone differ from those when with mixed- species flock, latter also different when New Guinea Babbler (Pomatostomus isidorei) present; individually, 58% of foraging in main canopy, 21% in subcanopy and 21% in understorey; in mixed flocks with babblers, 48% in canopy, 30% in subcanopy and 22% in understorey, but without babblers respective figures are 78%, 11% and 11%. Captures prey by gleaning and snatching from surface of leaves, bark, vine and accumulated debris in trees; rarely feeds on ground.
Nest- building during wet season, copulation in early Feb, eggs in Jul, mid- Oct and mid- Nov, adults in breeding condition in late Aug, courtship feeding seen in early Oct and early Nov, and occupied nest in Jan, indicative of breeding from late dry season to middle of wet season, at least. Possibly co- operative breeder, reports of fledgling being fed by more than two individuals. Courtship feeding with either partner offering food item; the one receiving it may adopt begging posture, with wings and tail lowered and quivering. Nest a bulky, deep cut of thin sticks, woody vines, rootlets, dead leaves and other vegetation, lined with fine woody stems and tendrils, external diameter c. 12- 13 cm, internal diameter c. 8 cm, built 1,5- 3,5 m (usually c. 2 m) from ground in vertical fork of sapling. Clutch 1 egg, pale blue to pinkish- purple, or reddish- grey to rose- brown, with dark purplish- brown, greyish and red spots mainly around larger end, 32,5- 37 x 21,5- 24,3 mm. No information on incubation and nestling periods.