- Symposiachrus vidua
Monarcha viduus
Identification
15 cm. A small, black-and-white monarch with a broad white collar.
- Bluish-black head to chin, throat and centre of upper breast
- Broadly white neck side and hindneck
- Mostly bluish-black upperparts, but rump and uppertail-coverts white and white edges on wings
- Black tail with white tips on central tail feathers
- White underparts below breast centre
- Pale grey or bluish-grey bill
- squamulatus has white squamate or pear-shaped ovals on otherwise black lower throat and upper breast
Sexes similar, juveniles have brown or grey-brown head and upperparts and mostly rufous underparts.
Distribution
Endemic to San Cristobal and Ugi in the southern Solomon Islands.
Fairly common to common in its small range.
Taxonomy
Clements regards this species as monotypic, other authorities recognize two subspecies:
- S. v. squamulatus on Ugi Island
- S. v. vidua on San Cristobal Island, southern Solomon Islands
Formerly placed in genus Monarcha.
Habitat
Found in primary forest and tall secondary forest.
Occurs from sea-level up to mountains, at least to 800 m.
Behaviour
Often helds its tail raised.
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Forages singly, in pairs or in mixed-species flocks.
Breeding
No information.
Movements
This is a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2006. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553064
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-collared Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-collared_Monarch
