Nominate race has crown and head side black to blackish- brown, upperparts dark brown; upperwing and tail dark brown; dusky brown below, throat greyer, belly slightly paler and browner; iris dark brownish- red; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race atra is darker than nominate, back about same colour as crown.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has crown and head side black to blackish- brown, upperparts dark brown; upperwing and tail dark brown; dusky brown below, throat greyer, belly slightly paler and browner; iris dark brownish- red; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race atra is darker than nominate, back about same colour as crown.
18- 19 cm; 46g
Taxonomy: Melanorhectes umbrinus Reichenow, 1915, Schraderberg, Sepik Mountains, New Guinea. Initially considered to be a whistler and named as Pachycephala tenebrosa; with transfer to present genus, latter name becomes preoccupied and is therefore replaced by current one. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * atra ( Rothschild, 1931) - WC New Guinea on N slopes of Snow Mts from upper R Siriwo (Gebroeder Mts) E to R Idenburg. * umbrina ( Reichenow, 1915) - S slopes of Snow Mts from Weyland Mts E to Mt Goliath, Hindenburg Mts and Sepik Mts; isolated record from W Schrader Mts.
Forest and forest edges; known altitudinal range 1400- 2150 m.
Insects. Frequents substage and low shrubbery; perches and watches for prey for long periods.
Pair carrying nesting material in Dec. No other information.