Lalage leucomela
Not Threatened
Taxonomy: Campephaga Leucomela Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, south-east Queensland, Australia. Forms a superspecies with L. aurea, L. atrovirens and L. conjuncta. Last-mentioned often treated as conspecific with present species, but plumage markedly distinct. Fifteen subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * keyensis Rothschild & Hartert, 1917 - Kai Is. * polygrammica (G. R. Gray, 1858) - Aru Is, and E & S New Guinea (E from Wau and Huon Gulf, S to R Mimika). * falsa Hartert, 1925 - S Bismarck Archipelago (Umboi, New Britain, Duke of York). * albidior (Hartert, 1924) - New Hanover. * karu (Lesson & Garnot, 1827) - New Ireland. * sumunae Salomonsen, 1964 - Djaul I, off W New Ireland. * tabarensis Mayr, 1955 - Tabar Is, off N New Ireland. * ottomeyeri Stresemann, 1933 - Lihir Is (S of Tabar Is). * triobriandi Mayr, 1936 - Triobriand Is, off E New Guinea. * obscurior Rothschild & Hartert, 1917 - D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago (Goodenough, Fergusson, Normanby). * pallescens Rothschild & Hartert, 1917 - Louisiade Archipelago (Misima, Renard, Tagula). * macrura Schodde, 1989 - NE Western Australia (Kimberleys). * rufiventris (G. R. Gray, 1846) - N Northern Territory (Arnhem Land) and Melville I, in N Australia. * yorki Mathews, 1912 - coastal N Queensland (Cape York Peninsula) and islands in Torres Strait; also coastal Trans-Fly region of SC New Guinea. * leucomela (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - coastal E Queensland S to NE New South Wales (Newcastle area).
Eats mostly fruit; insects also recorded. Occurs in pairs or small parties in upper canopy and outer foliage. forages actively and noisily; obtains food by gleaning and by “flycatcher-gleaning”.