Male nominate race is all black, except for small underwing-coverts, iris dark brown, bill black, lower mandible orange to pinkish-orange, legs black. Female is very different, upperparts rufous, crown darker, R dark brown with rufous ending, two central pairs of tail feather entirely black, remaining R rufous, underparts rich rusty orange. Immature male is like adult female. Vulpes is similar to nominate in male, but female is brighter rufous.
Not Threatened
Male nominate race is all black, except for small underwing-coverts, iris dark brown, bill black, lower mandible orange to pinkish-orange, legs black. Female is very different, upperparts rufous, crown darker, R dark brown with rufous ending, two central pairs of tail feather entirely black, remaining R rufous, underparts rich rusty orange. Immature male is like adult female. Vulpes is similar to nominate in male, but female is brighter rufous.
16.5 cm, 11-12 g
Taxonomy: Rhipidura atra Salvadori, 1876, Hatam and Mori, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * atra Salvadori, 1876 - mountains of New Guinea (except Cyclops Mts), and Waigeo I. * vulpes Mayr, 1931 - Cyclops Mts (NC New Guinea).
Prefer dense undergrowth in forest and dense regrowth at forest edge, mainly 1000-2150 m, locally 700-3200 m. At higher elevations replaced by R. Brachyrhancha, although often with wide margin of overlap.
Resident.
Insect, including beetles and caterpillars. Forage mainly in lower storey and undergrowth. Prey captured by flycaching 75, gleaning 25. Occasionally joins mixed feeding flocks with other insectivorous species.
Nov-May, in late dry season. Nest a small cup of fine plant fragments, lined with fine thread-like fibre, bound with spider web, thin tail on underside. Placed near ground in horizontal fork of thin twig. Clutch 1 egg, cram, with purple-grey and olive-brown speckles and brothes forming broad zone near larger end, 18x13.8 mm, no info on fledging period. Resident. Not globally threatened.