Peltops montanus
Smaller than butcherbirds, large-headed and stout, with large hook-tipped bill, shallowly forked tail and striking red, white and red plumage. Plumage is mostly glossy bluish-black, flight-feathers and tail with brown tinge; conspicuous white fan-shaped patch on side of head from behind eye to side of neck, large white patch on neck; rump and uppertail-coverts red, thighs, lower abdomen and undertail-coverts red; underwing white; iris orange-red to dark red-brown, bill and legs black. Distinguished from very similar P.blainvillii; in slightly large size, although bill same size (thus looks relatively smaller), white patch on side of head typically larger and reaches above eye level, larges and more conspicuous white patch on back (also differs in some vocalization). Sexes similar, male slightly larger then female. Immature is similar to adult but duller, with white tips on some wings feathers and some white on chin and throat.
Not Threatened
Smaller than butcherbirds, large-headed and stout, with large hook-tipped bill, shallowly forked tail and striking red, white and red plumage. Plumage is mostly glossy bluish-black, flight-feathers and tail with brown tinge; conspicuous white fan-shaped patch on side of head from behind eye to side of neck, large white patch on neck; rump and uppertail-coverts red, thighs, lower abdomen and undertail-coverts red; underwing white; iris orange-red to dark red-brown, bill and legs black. Distinguished from very similar P.blainvillii; in slightly large size, although bill same size (thus looks relatively smaller), white patch on side of head typically larger and reaches above eye level, larges and more conspicuous white patch on back (also differs in some vocalization). Sexes similar, male slightly larger then female. Immature is similar to adult but duller, with white tips on some wings feathers and some white on chin and throat.
20cm; 27-36 g.
Taxonomy: Peltops blainvillii montanus Stresemann, 1921, Hunsteinspitze, Sepik Mountains, New Guinea. Forms a superspecies with P. blainvillii. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
- Highland New Guinea in Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts and Arfak Mts) and C cordillera from Weyland Mts E to Huon Peninsula and SE peninsula.
Montane rainforest; tall forest trees at edges of opened spaces, in similar habitat to that of P.blainvillii. Seen near landslips treefalls, along rivers or roads, in gardens; in virgin forest, observed in emergent trees or along ridges. Generally above 600 m, and to 3000 m; occasionally slightly lower, down to c. 550 m.
Food mainly insects, including beetles and adult bugs, also large moths. Sallies out from conspicuous perch at 15 m or more above ground, returning to same perch or one nearby.
Little known. Nest records indicate breeding during late dry to early wet season, at least. Nest reported as a small cup of twigs and rootlets, placed 7-15 m above ground in horizontal fork at end of outer branch; two nests each held a single nestling. No other information.