Nominate race has throat onto anterior cheeks white, rest of head rather dark ashy grey, hindneck slightly paler, upperparts olivaceous grey; remiges fuscous, outer webs edged olive- brown except on outer three primaries and innermost secondaries, which have blackish base on outer web and white patch on each web, tertials olive- brown; lesser upperwing- coverts ashy grey, greater and primary coverts fuscous black, other coverts olive- fuscous; tail fuscous, washed brown; chin grey, throat white, breast pale ashy, belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts rusty olive; iris dark brown; bill olive- brown, tip pale; legs pink. Sexes similar. Juvenile has body rufous, paler on underparts; immature similar to adult, but some greater upperwing- coverts tipped rufous- chestnut, bill pale with darker base. Races rather distinctive: rothschildi has white supercilium from above eye to nape side, white bar from throat to eye, rest of head and hindneck black, upperparts olive- brown, inner secondaries as back, other remiges black with olive- brown edges, white or pale grey patch on centre of remiges (forming patch on folded wing, stripe in flight), central rectrices as back, others black with paler edges, chin black, throat white, breast grey, belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts ochraceous; centralis is like pevious, but upperparts more greyish- olive, ochraceous of flanks reduced; armiti is similar to last, but forehead greyish, crown tinged brown, back greenish- olive, uppertail- coverts more reddish- brown; atricapilla has crown black, tail darker rust- brown.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has throat onto anterior cheeks white, rest of head rather dark ashy grey, hindneck slightly paler, upperparts olivaceous grey; remiges fuscous, outer webs edged olive- brown except on outer three primaries and innermost secondaries, which have blackish base on outer web and white patch on each web, tertials olive- brown; lesser upperwing- coverts ashy grey, greater and primary coverts fuscous black, other coverts olive- fuscous; tail fuscous, washed brown; chin grey, throat white, breast pale ashy, belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts rusty olive; iris dark brown; bill olive- brown, tip pale; legs pink. Sexes similar. Juvenile has body rufous, paler on underparts; immature similar to adult, but some greater upperwing- coverts tipped rufous- chestnut, bill pale with darker base. Races rather distinctive: rothschildi has white supercilium from above eye to nape side, white bar from throat to eye, rest of head and hindneck black, upperparts olive- brown, inner secondaries as back, other remiges black with olive- brown edges, white or pale grey patch on centre of remiges (forming patch on folded wing, stripe in flight), central rectrices as back, others black with paler edges, chin black, throat white, breast grey, belly white, flanks and undertail- coverts ochraceous; centralis is like pevious, but upperparts more greyish- olive, ochraceous of flanks reduced; armiti is similar to last, but forehead greyish, crown tinged brown, back greenish- olive, uppertail- coverts more reddish- brown; atricapilla has crown black, tail darker rust- brown.
15- 18 cm; 91- 101 g
Taxonomy: Pachycephala albispecularis Salvadori, 1876, Tamrau and Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Genus often subsumed in Poecilodryas. Closely allied to and sometimes considered conspecific with H. cinereifrons; further research required. Racial identity of birds from Gauttier Mts uncertain; tentatively included in centralis. Five subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * albispecularis (Salvadori, 1876) - NW New Guinea (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts). * rothschildi E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - Weyland Mts and S slopes of Snow Mts, in WC New Guinea. * a. centralis a. centralis Rand, 1940 - N & C New Guinea: Gauttier Mts, and Wissel Lakes district and N slopes of C ranges from R Idenburg E to Central Highlands. * atricapilla Mayr, 1931 - Adelbert Mts and mountains of Huon Peninsula, in NE New Guinea. * armiti (De Vis, 1894) - Herzog Mts and mountains of SE New Guinea.
Montane forest at 1400- 2600 m, mostly 1700- 2400 m; locally as low as 850 m in W of range. FOOD: Insects, including beetles (Coleoptera), ants (Hymenoptera) and phasmids, larvae, centipedes (Chilopoda) and earthworms. Frequents undergrowth and ground; much of foraging (c. 75%) takes place on ground. Obtains food by gleaning (c. 20%) and in sally- strikes to low vegetation (c. 80%).
Insects, including beetles (Coleoptera), ants (Hymenoptera) and phasmids, larvae, centipedes (Chilopoda) and earthworms. Frequents undergrowth and ground; much of foraging (c. 75%) takes place on ground. Obtains food by gleaning (c. 20%) and in sally- strikes to low vegetation (c. 80%).
No assessed.
Female in breeding condition in Jun, nestlings mid- Sept to early Oct, juvenile in early Nov and nest with egg in late Dec, indicating breeding from middle of dry season to early wet season, at least. Nest an untidy shallow cup of rootlets; placed 0,9- 3 m from ground on slender branchlet of sapling, next to main stem, or in small bush in dimly lit situation. Clutch 1 egg, pale cream, slightly olivaceous, blotched and spotted with browns, buff and purple- grey ( markings densest on large end), 24,3 x 19,5 mm; no information on incubation and nestling periods; when nest or young threatened, adult performs injury- feigning distraction display on ground.