Manus Monarch

Symposiachrus infelix

A medium-sized pied monarch with a mostly black head and chest and a large white ear patch. Belly white. Upperparts and wings black with a large white wing patch. Tail black with white outer feathers. On outer islands, has white tail tipped black. Found in most habitats with trees. Voice includes a series of high-pitched whistles and chattering scolding notes.

Taxonomy

The Manus monarch was originally placed in the genus Monarcha until moved to Symposiachrus in 2009.<p>There are two subspecies recognized:

Scientific name
Symposiachrus infelix
Authority
(Sclater, PL, 1877)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Monarchidae
Genus
Symposiachrus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Carp's Tit

Carp's Tit

Melaniparus carpi

A black tit with a mostly white wing and outer tail. The sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller and browner. Found in arid savanna and mopane woodland. Usually in pairs or small groups, which are loud and conspicuous. Call is a classic tit “chee-chi-chi-chi-chi,” raspy and often repeated. Overlaps very locally with the very similar Southern Black-Tit in northern Namibia. Carp’s Tit can be identified by its all-black rather than white-barred undertail, and by having more white in the wing.

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus moluccensis

Small plain woodpecker of wooded areas from primary rainforest to parklands and forest edges. Brownish overall with a white-striped head, a spotted back, and pale gray streaks on a buffy breast. Male has a small red speck near the back of the crown. Similar Gray-capped Woodpecker is black-and-white, with a less cleanly striped head, cleaner underparts, and unevenly distributed pale spotting on the back and wings. Sunda’s call is a high-pitched rattling trill.

Gorgeted Woodstar

Gorgeted Woodstar

Chaetocercus heliodor

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees. Gorgeted Woodstar is found in the subtropical and temperate zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forest, edges, and second growth. Males are deep emerald-green (more of a bluish tone than other woodstars) with a glittering wine-colored throat and white patches on the sides of the rump. Females are trickier; note the rufous rump and tail with a black band at the base, extremely small size, short tail, and buffy infusion on the throat. On both sexes, bill often appears slightly decurved, more than other woodstars. Sometimes seen singly feeding in the canopy or at lower patches of flowers. Visits feeders.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.

Manus Monarch | BirdLens