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Black-browed Triller - BirdForum Opus

Alternative names: (Not to be confused with Lalage leucopygialis ), Black browed Triller

Adult male of subspecies leucoptera
Photo by mehdhalaouate
Biak, Papua New Guinea, May 2004
Lalage atrovirens

Identification

18–19 cm, 7.1-7.5 inches, 31.5 g.

Male

Juvenile
Photo by mehdhalaouate
Biak, Papua New Guinea, May 2004

Female

  • Female is similar to male, but duller
  • Upperparts dark grey to black, with less shine
  • Chin and throat white
  • Breast and flanks with fine black barring

Juvenile

  • Juvenile is undescribed
  • Immature like female

Similar Species

Males differs from Mussau Triller by having more black on greater wing coverts, lacks reddish brown on lower underparts, lacks black on thighs. Males also differ from White-shouldered Triller with less white in the wing and no white supercilium.

Distribution

Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies:[1]

  • L. a. atrovirens:
  • Misool, Salawati and Waigeo islands and northern New Guinea
  • L. a. leucoptera: More white in wing than nominate, female lacks barred underparts

Some authorities[2] consider White-browed Triller from the Tanimbar Islands (Arafura Sea) to be a third subspecies.

Habitat

More common in secondary forest, light forest and forest edge than primary ot tall forest. Also found in mangroves, thin coastal woodland, scrub, gardens and partiall cleared areas. Mainly in lowlands. In New Guinea up to 1400 m.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet consists of fruit and arthropods, foraging singly, in pairs or in small groups. Occasionally observed in mixed flocks. Forages in canopy and middle storey, often at openings, eating small fruits and gleaning from leaves.

Breeding

Juveniles have been seen in mid-June in New Guinea. No other information.

Vocalisation

One song is made up of melodious, rapidly repeated “twee” whistles; also “see o seet weo”, repeated five or six times. Pairs duet with melodious “tewhit tewheet wheetu”; also 5–7 notes that sound like laughter.

Movement

No movement has been recorded.

References

  1. 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/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved January 2016)

Recommended Citation

External Links

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