From Opus

Photo by Xenospiza
Kumul Lodge, Enga, Papua New Guinea, 12-07-2006

Melidectes belfordi

[edit] Identification

27 cm

• Black crown, lores, cheeks, and throat
• White brow stripe
• Broad white streaks at side of throat
• Grey underparts
• Brownish belly and undertail
• Light blue bare facial skin and whitish wattles

[edit] Distribution

South-east Asia: found in New Guinea and Indonesia.

[edit] Taxonomy

Was considered conspecific with Vogelkop Melidectes.

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

There are 5 subspecies:

• M. b. brassi:

• Mountains of north-western New Guinea

• M. b. joiceyi:

• Western New Guinea (Weyland Mountains)

• M. b. kinneari:

• Southern New Guinea (Nassau and Snow Mountains)

• M. b. belfordi:

• Central Highlands and Mountains of south-eastern New Guinea

• M. b. schraderensis:

• North-eastern New Guinea (Schrader Mountains)

[edit] Habitat

Mountain rainforests, and shrubbery in subalpine grasslands.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes nectar, arthropods, and some fruit.

[edit] Breeding

A deep cup-shaped nest is formed from moss, twigs, and hairs from the fronds of tree ferns.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID