Alternative names: Ochre collared Monarch, Rufous collared Monarch, Rufous-collared Monarch
- Arses insularis
Identification
15–16 cm, 5.9-6.3 inches
Male
- Black head with well developed fleshy blue eyering
- Bright ochre erectile collar feathers
- Bright ochre neck side, chin, throat and upper breast
- Small black chin patch
- Black mantle, remiges and tail
- White lower back, scapulars and rump
- White lower breast, belly, flanks and undertail coverts
- Dark brown iris
- Blue grey beak and legs
Female
- Grey crown
- Olive brown mantle, wings and tail
- Red brown collar, chin, throat and upper breast
- White underparts below upper breast
Immature
- Like female but duller
- May have black on top of head
- Orangey brown chin, throat and upper breast.
Distribution
Lowlands of northern New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) from the Mamberamo River east to Astrolabe Bay and the upper Ramu River, Yapen Island.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Rainforest in lowlands, hills and mountains, up to about 1500 m. Also on forest edge, but appears to avoid heavily disturbed habitat. On the eastern edge of the northern slope where it shares habitat with Frilled Monarch it is more prevalent in higher altitudes.
Behaviour
Diet
Mainly insects. Usually found singly or in pairs, but also associates with mixed flocks, which they stick to the edges. Forages mainly in middle storey in large trees, but often moves to the lower canopy and occasionally even lower to thickets. Not known if sexes differ in feeding strategies, but females are more secretive. Less overt than Frilled Monarch, which is seen more often in the lower storey.
Breeding
Seasonal variation may occur within range. August – September in the drier season in east of range (highlands and Madang), April – May during the late wet season in west (Idenburg River area). Nest comprises of a bowl of fibres and small roots bound with silk and decorated with lichen that is slung between small vertical branches at 3–5 m above ground. No other information.
Vocalisation
Song is a series of loud, resonant rather buzzy sounds, ascending in volume. Similar to Frilled Monarch but faster, longer, and higher-pitched. The scolding “bzzzt” alarm call is shorter and less forceful than that of Frilled Monarch.
Movement
Sedentary
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved January 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Ochre-collared Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ochre-collared_Monarch
