Mino dumontii
Large, short-tailed myna with much of head unfeathered, having large bare patch above, behind, below AND, LESS extensively, in front of eye. as well as bare patch on chin and side of throat; feathers of forehead, central crown, neck and upper mantle, and throat small and lanceolate. Feathers from forehead to central crown, nape and hindneck and upper mantle, also on central throat, black with purple gloss, usually small white flecks on side of neck produced by white filoplumes (sometimes forming more extensive patches); rest of mantle and back black with greenish gloss, rump and uppertail-coverts while; wing and tail black and glossy, white wing patch formed by white area on inner web of outer primary P9. both webs of P4—P8 and outer web of P3: breast and belly black with greenish gloss, lower belly deep golden-yellow, undertail-coverts white: iris orange-yellow, mottled and flecked with black, some regional variation in iris coloration (often brown in S New Guinea, but in N may be dark brown with or without gold spots); bare head skin orange-yellow; bill and legs orange-yellow. Sexes alike. Juvenile has paler facial skin and paler golden lower belly than adult.
Not Threatened
Large, short-tailed myna with much of head unfeathered, having large bare patch above, behind, below AND, LESS extensively, in front of eye. as well as bare patch on chin and side of throat; feathers of forehead, central crown, neck and upper mantle, and throat small and lanceolate. Feathers from forehead to central crown, nape and hindneck and upper mantle, also on central throat, black with purple gloss, usually small white flecks on side of neck produced by white filoplumes (sometimes forming more extensive patches); rest of mantle and back black with greenish gloss, rump and uppertail-coverts while; wing and tail black and glossy, white wing patch formed by white area on inner web of outer primary P9. both webs of P4—P8 and outer web of P3: breast and belly black with greenish gloss, lower belly deep golden-yellow, undertail-coverts white: iris orange-yellow, mottled and flecked with black, some regional variation in iris coloration (often brown in S New Guinea, but in N may be dark brown with or without gold spots); bare head skin orange-yellow; bill and legs orange-yellow. Sexes alike. Juvenile has paler facial skin and paler golden lower belly than adult.
25 cm; mean 217 g
Taxonomy: Mino Dumontii Lesson, 1827, Dorey, north-west New Guinea. Sometimes treated as conspecific with M. kreffti; populations of that species from SW Bismarcks appear morphologically closer to present species than to other populations of M. kreffti, suggesting that separate species status may require reassessment. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
- West Papuan Is (Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati), New Guinea and many small offshore islands (except those off SE coast), and Aru Is.
Forest of various types, including rainforest, swamp-forest and monsoon forest; also forest edge and partly cleared areas, and will venture into savanna. Generally in lowlands and bills below 800 m. but in E half of New Guinea recorded at up to 1800 m.
Diet mainly fruit, also insects. Often feeding on fruit and berries in company of M. anais or other frugivores. Gleans caterpillars; also hawks insects from high perches. Usually in pairs, also in small groups, occasionally in larger flocks.
Recorded in Aug-Sept and Jan-Apr, suggesting that breeding extends from middle dry season to early wet season. Apparently monogamous, with long-term, possibly lifelong pair-bond. At one nest three birds carried nest material and all three may have fed young, suggesting possible co-operative breeding. Nest of dry sticks, also twigs with green leaves, built in tree hole usually 10-30 m above ground, one nest in base of bird's-nest fern on horizontal branch of dead tree: in captivity, used nextbox lined with straw and strips of paper. Clutch 1-2 eggs, light blue with pale grey and red-brown markings: in captivity, incubation primarily by female, period 14 days, chicks fed by both sexes, nestling period for one brood c. 40 days, only one surviving parent feeding young.