Alternative names: Clicking Peltops; Lowland Peltops-Flycatcher; Lowland Shieldbill
- Peltops blainvillii
Identification
18-19 cm (7-7½ in). A large-headed and stout passerine with a shallowly forked tail.
- Mostly glossy bluish-black plumage
- Brown tinge on flight feathers and tail
- Prominent white patch on side of ead
- White patch on mantle
- Striking red rump, uppertail-coverts, undertail-coverts, lower abdomen and thighs
- White underwing
- Red to dark red-brown eye
Sexes similar, females are slightly smaller. Juveniles are duller with greyish-black plumage and some white on throat.
Similar species
Differs from very similar Mountain Peltops by less extensive white on side of head and less white on back.
Distribution
Found in New Guinea and West Papuan Islands (Waigeo, Salawati and Misool).
Widely distributed in the lowlands.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]. Forms a superspecies with Mountain Peltops. Peltopses are of uncertain affinities. They are currently classified as a subfamily Peltopsinae within the Woodswallows and Butcherbirds (Artamidae). In the past they have been considered members of the Monarchidae or the Cracticidae (now merged with Artamidae), but may deserve full family rank[5].
Habitat
Moist lowland forest. Also in disturbed areas and gardens. Occurs up to ca. 600m. Replaced by Mountain Peltops at higher elevations.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on flying insects like dragonflies. Spends long time on perch before sallying after insects.
Breeding
Little known about breeding. Territorial. The nest is reported as a small cup made of twigs and rootlets and placed more than 6 meters above the ground in a tree.
Vocalisation
Call is dry clicking.
Movements
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Russell, E., Rowley, I. & Christie, D.A. (2019). Lowland Peltops (Peltops blainvillii). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60625 on 8 November 2019).
- Gregory, P. (2017) Birds of New Guinea, Including Bismarck Archipelago and Boughainville. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
- Kearns, A.M., Joseph, L. & Cook, L.G. (2013) A multilocus coalescent analysis of the speciational history of the Australo-Papuan butcherbirds and their allies. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 66(3): 941ñ952.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) Lowland Peltops. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 August 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lowland_Peltops
