Accipiter melanochlamys
Adult unmistakable with striking black and chesnut plumage including broad chesnut collar. Juvenile mottled brown, similarly to juvenile of some sympatric Accipiter species but head and UnP paler, less densely marked
Not Threatened.
Adult unmistakable with striking black and chesnut plumage including broad chesnut collar. Juvenile mottled brown, similarly to juvenile of some sympatric Accipiter species but head and UnP paler, less densely marked
30-45 cm, male 172-226 g, larger female 294 g
Taxonomy:
- Urospizias melanochlamys Salvadori, 1875, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Forms superspecies with A. albogularis, A. haplochrous and A. rufitorques. Two poorly defined races, doubtfully valid and not recognized by some authorities: eastern birds paler dorsally; differences possibly confounded by sexual characters or plumage wear of specimens. Two subspecies normally recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * melanochlamys (Salvadori, 1875) - Vogelkop (W New Guinea). * schistacinus (Rothschild & Hartert, 1903) - montane C & E New Guinea.
Mostly birds, including pigeons, also small mammals, frogs and insect. Flies through forest to seize pigeons among branches.
Nest presumably typical of genus, within fores. A male was in breeding condition in Oct. No further info. CITES II.