Psittacella brehmii
Colourization Adult: P.b. brehmii: male-dark brown head, tinted olive; sides of neck have yellow line; green upperparts, with black barring; green breast; red undertail coverts; green tail. Bill blue/grey tipped with white. Eye red. Female-yellow line down sides of neck absent; yellow breast, with black barring. P.b. intermixta: both adults as in brehmii, but with more yellow underparts; paler olive/brown throat and sides of head. Larger in size. P.b. pallida: male-plumage is variable, but as in brehmii, and more yellowish upperparts and underparts; abdomen has blue suffusion on some birds. Female-differs from brehmii by having yellow flanks and sides of abdomen with black barring; more yellow upperparts and underparts. P.b. harterti: male-as in intermixta, but less yellow underparts; paler head with more olive colour. Smaller in size. Female-as in intermixta, but less yellow underparts; light black barring on flanks and sides of dull yellow abdomen. Smaller in size. Colourization Juvenile: P.b. brehmii: as in adult female but with orange/red undertail coverts, the feathers tipped yellow/green. Eye yellow/brown. Call: Calls not often heard; when disturbed deep, short notes; also two-syllable harsh notes, some downslurred.
Not Threatened.
Colourization Adult: P.b. brehmii: male-dark brown head, tinted olive; sides of neck have yellow line; green upperparts, with black barring; green breast; red undertail coverts; green tail. Bill blue/grey tipped with white. Eye red. Female-yellow line down sides of neck absent; yellow breast, with black barring. P.b. intermixta: both adults as in brehmii, but with more yellow underparts; paler olive/brown throat and sides of head. Larger in size. P.b. pallida: male-plumage is variable, but as in brehmii, and more yellowish upperparts and underparts; abdomen has blue suffusion on some birds. Female-differs from brehmii by having yellow flanks and sides of abdomen with black barring; more yellow upperparts and underparts. P.b. harterti: male-as in intermixta, but less yellow underparts; paler head with more olive colour. Smaller in size. Female-as in intermixta, but less yellow underparts; light black barring on flanks and sides of dull yellow abdomen. Smaller in size. Colourization Juvenile: P.b. brehmii: as in adult female but with orange/red undertail coverts, the feathers tipped yellow/green. Eye yellow/brown. Call: Calls not often heard; when disturbed deep, short notes; also two-syllable harsh notes, some downslurred.
24 cm. 94-120 g
Taxonomy:
- Psittacella Brehmii Schlegel, 1873, mountainous interior, 4000-5000 feet (c. 1200-1500 m), west coast of Geelvink Bay = Arfak Mountains. Four subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * brehmii Schlegel, 1873 - Vogelkop, NW New Guinea. * intermixta Hartert, 1930 - Weyland and Snow Mts and Mt Goliath, C Irian Jaya. * harterti Mayr, 1931 - Huon Peninsula, NE New Guinea. * pallida A. B. Meyer, 1886 - central mountains of Papua New Guinea.
Found from 1500-3000m in montane forest, including podocarp and beech Nothofagus forest and forest edge.
Diet includes seeds and berries from conifers and podocarps
Around June, no further info. Slow-moving, short distance fliers. Found singly or in small groups and are fairly tame. Feeds on or near the ground although they are found at higher levels as well.
