Chestnut-bellied Monarch
Monarcha castaneiventris
A medium-sized glossy blue-black monarch with a chestnut belly and undertail and a pale grayish bill. Birds on small islands north and southeast of Makira are entirely glossy purple-black; birds on the Russell Islands are polymorphic; birds on Bougainville (formerly their own species, Bougainville Monarch) have a pale crescent at the bill base. Found mostly in primary forest, rarely above 1100 meters of elevation. Song is a series of rapid “kwee kwee kwee” whistles. Common calls are harsh, scolding chattering notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Monarcha castaneiventris
- Authority
- Verreaux, J, 1858
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Genus
- Monarcha
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
In 2009, it was reported that a genetic change in some members of this species caused their colouration and songs to be different from other members of the species. As a result, members in one group did not recognize members in the other, so the two groups became reproductively isolated from each other. It was thought that over time, this could eventually lead to the creation of a new species, and that this was an example of biological evolution.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Yellow-rumped Munia
Lonchura flaviprymna
Small finchlike bird with brown wings, pale bill, and yellowish rump. Found in areas with tall grass, often in flocks beside rivers or floodplains, sometimes mixed with other seed-eating species. Pale gray head contrasts with dark brown back and wings, underparts pale buff, and rump and tail dark yellowish tone. Juvenile very plain, easily confused with juvenile Chestnut-breasted (which has less uniform upperparts) or Pictorella Munia (which has shadow pattern of dark ear coverts, recalling adult’s).
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
A large crow that varies in size across its range; note its relatively long, daggerlike bill with curved top. Entirely black with a variable amount of glossiness. A frequent scavenger, feeding on carrion, leftover food from humans, and food stolen from other birds. Often gangs up to attack and chase other birds, especially raptors. Occurs in a wide range of habitats including woodlands, urban landscapes, agricultural fields, and open scrub forests. Call varies, generally a harsh or croaking crow.
Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Small finch with bright orange bill and a distinctive black-and-white “moustache” mark. Adult male gray above, with barred grayish bib, rusty white-spotted flanks, and black-and-white tail pattern. Female smooth gray to buff on the chest and belly; juvenile similar but with a dark gray bill. Inhabits arid inland Australia, where often found in very large flocks.
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