Nominate race has crown and hindneck and side of head to below eye grey, lores white, back olive- green, uppertail- coverts rusty brown; flight- feathers dark brownish- grey, edged reddish- brown to olive- brown on outer webs, lesser and median upperwing- coverts olive- green; tail dark brownish- grey, rectrices edged reddish- brown to olive- brown; chin, upper throat and malar region white; underparts yellowish- olive, clearer and more yellow on lower abdomen, undertail- coverts orange, axillaries olive; iris pale grey; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race ernesti has breast darker green, with grey wash on upper part; insularis similar to previous, but white on chin reduced, uppertail- coverts olive (not brown), tail darker; axillaris has underparts paler, axillaries more yellow; lecroyae is darker overall, with throat white, lower breast lacking grey wash, undertail- coverts more orange, axillaries more olive.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has crown and hindneck and side of head to below eye grey, lores white, back olive- green, uppertail- coverts rusty brown; flight- feathers dark brownish- grey, edged reddish- brown to olive- brown on outer webs, lesser and median upperwing- coverts olive- green; tail dark brownish- grey, rectrices edged reddish- brown to olive- brown; chin, upper throat and malar region white; underparts yellowish- olive, clearer and more yellow on lower abdomen, undertail- coverts orange, axillaries olive; iris pale grey; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race ernesti has breast darker green, with grey wash on upper part; insularis similar to previous, but white on chin reduced, uppertail- coverts olive (not brown), tail darker; axillaris has underparts paler, axillaries more yellow; lecroyae is darker overall, with throat white, lower breast lacking grey wash, undertail- coverts more orange, axillaries more olive.
15 cm; 33- 35 g
Taxonomy: Pachycephala hattamensis A. B. Meyer, 1874, Hatam, Arfak Mountains, 3550 feet [c. 1080 m], north-west New Guinea. Affinities of genus uncertain; has in the past been associated with whistler genus Pachycephala, and sometimes merged with it. Placement within current subfamily somewhat tentative; further research required. Five subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * hattamensis (A. B. Meyer, 1874) - Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts), in NW New Guinea. * ernesti E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - W New Guinea (Wandammen Mts). * insularis Diamond, 1985 - Yapen I, in Geelvink Bay. * axillaris Mayr, 1931 - WC New Guinea (Gauttier, Weyland, Nassau and Oranje Mts). * lecroyae Boles, 1989 - Mt Sisa, in Southern Highlands Province (E New Guinea).
Hill forest and lower montane forest, mainly at 760- 1650 m, locally to 2000 m. Where sympatric with P. poliosoma, usually replaces that species above 975 m.
Insects. Forages in low substage and on ground, particularly in areas with abundant ferns and tall herbs.
Uncompleted nest found; composed of moss, placed c. 0,5 m from ground and well hidden in bend of liana. No other information.