Alternative names: Dwarf Whistler; Golden-faced Pachycare; Grey-and-yellow Flycatcher
- Pachycare flavogriseum
Identification
13cm. A striking bird:
- Crown and hindnape bluish-grey
- Black line separating crown from bright yellow forehead, supercilium and ear-coverts
- Light bluish-grey upperparts
- Dusk grey outer primaries
- Bluish-grey tertials with black inner webs, each with white tip
- Bluish-grey tail
- Bright yellow throat and underparts
- Black bill
- Light brown to brown legs
Females are similar but they have ear-coverts with a dusky patch and less black on the forehead. Juveniles apparently like females.
Variations
Randi and subaurantium are darker below with an orange tinge, subpallidum is paler.
Distribution
Endemic to New Guinea.
Common in upper altitudinal parts of range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- P. f. flavogriseum:
- Western New Guinea (Vogelkop and Wandammen mountains)
- P. f. lecroyae:
- Northern New Guinea (Bewani and Torricelli Mountains)
- P. f. subaurantium:
- Mountains of central New Guinea
- P. f. randi:
- New Guinea (Snow Mountains in Idenburg River area)
- P. f. subpallidum:
- South-eastern New Guinea (Herzog and Saruwaged mountains)
Habitat
Hill and lower montane forest, also adjacent secondary growth. Occurs mainly at 800 - 1650m, recorded at 400 - 1800m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects and spiders.
Forages in outer foliage in lower and middle storey. Often seen in mixed-species flocks, with species such as Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Regent Whistler, Friendly Fantail.
Breeding
Breeding recorded in October, June and November. The nest is globular with a side entrance and made of dry twigs, leaf strips, moss, lichen and grass. It's placed on the ground against downhill base of a sapling or a small tree on a slope. Lays 2 eggs.
Flight
Members of the Acanthizidae family have a characteristic undulating flight path.
Movements
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Goldenface. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Goldenface
