Nominate race has crown and upperparts deep blue- grey, side of forehead to ear- coverts black; upperwing blackish- brown, outer webs of remiges with small white spot (not visible on folded wing, but forming stripe in flight); tail blackish- brown, outer rectrices narrowly tipped white; chin, throat and upper breast black, side of neck with elongated white patch, breast side and flanks grey, lower breast to undertail- coverts white; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Sexes alike. Juvenile has plumage uniform pale cinnamon, except for white mark on neck side. Race griseiventris has lower breast and belly grey, not white; correcta is paler above than nominate, has black of throat more restricted, extent of white on underparts less and tinged buff.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has crown and upperparts deep blue- grey, side of forehead to ear- coverts black; upperwing blackish- brown, outer webs of remiges with small white spot (not visible on folded wing, but forming stripe in flight); tail blackish- brown, outer rectrices narrowly tipped white; chin, throat and upper breast black, side of neck with elongated white patch, breast side and flanks grey, lower breast to undertail- coverts white; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Sexes alike. Juvenile has plumage uniform pale cinnamon, except for white mark on neck side. Race griseiventris has lower breast and belly grey, not white; correcta is paler above than nominate, has black of throat more restricted, extent of white on underparts less and tinged buff.
18- 19 cm; 38- 43 g
Taxonomy: Megalestes albonotatus Salvadori, 1875, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Formerly placed in a monotypic genus, Plesiodryas. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * albonotata (Salvadori, 1875) - N Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts), in NW New Guinea. * griseiventris Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1913 - C New Guinea from Weyland Mts, Wissel Lakes district and Snow Mts E to Central Highlands. * correcta E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - mountains of Huon Peninsula and SE New Guinea (E from Aseki area).
Mountain forest and secondary growth, mainly at c. 1800- 2750 m, locally down to 1150 m.
Insects. Frequents mainly higher levels, occasionally descending to lowers levels. In studies, found usually to forage 6- 20 m from ground in middle storey (c. 30% of observations) and lower storey (c. 55%), sometimes in understorey (c. 15%). Insects captured by aerial flycatching (c. 80%) and by gleaning from vegetation (c. 20%).
Female in breeding condition in late Sept, fledglings being fed in mid- Feb and juveniles seen in Feb and late Nov, indicating breeding in late dry season and middle of wet season, at least. No other information.