Alternative names: Sooty Whistler; Obscure Whistler; Obscure Shrike-thrush
- Colluricincla tenebrosa
Identification
18 - 19cm
- Black to blackish-brown crown and head side
- Dark brown upperparts
- Dark brown upperwings and tail
- Dusky brown underparts with greyer throat and slightly paler and browner belly
- Dark brownish-red eye
- Black bill
- Grey legs
Sexes similar, juveniles undescribed. Atra is even darker.
Distribution
Endemic to New Guinea.
Rare and little known species.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- C. u. atra in west-central New Guinea on northern slopes of Snow Mountains
- C. u. umbrina on southern slopes of Snow Mountains and isolated in western Schrader Mountains
Has been placed in genus Pachycephala in the past as Pachycephala tenebrosa.
Habitat
Moist montanes from 1450 - 2150m.
Behaviour
Very shy species.
Feeds on insects, perching for long periods.
A pair was observed carrying nesting material in December. No other information about breeding.
Probably a resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Sooty Shrikethrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 31 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Sooty_Shrikethrush
