Belford's Honeyeater (Melidectes belfordi) - HBW 13, p. 613

Taxonomy: Melirrhophetes belfordi De Vis, 1890, Mount Knutsford, south-east New Guinea.
Study of relationships within genus needed. Forms a superspecies with M. leucostephes, M. rufocrissalis and M. foersteri; all four, along with M. ochromelas and M. torquatus, comprise a group of relatively large species that differ from others in genus in size, morphology, plumage and voice. Sometimes treated as conspecific with M. leucostephes and with M. rufocrissalis. Co-occurs with last-mentioned species on Mt Koimjim (in Schrader Mts), but the two appear to exclude each other altitudinally; the two hybridize freely, however, where they come into contact; Herzog Mts, much of Eastern Highlands, Mt Goliath (in E Star Mts) and N slopes of Snow Mts may once have supported both species, but hybrid populations now found extensively through these areas (although populations of N slopes of Snow Mts are almost pure individuals of present species, with only a few M. rufocrissalis characteristics). Race brassi and nominate race may represent different species, as they occupy same geographical range but are separated altitudinally and appear not to intergrade; further study needed. Races joiceyi and kinneari intergrade in W Nassau Mts (Wissel Lakes area). Proposed races stresemanni (type from Dawong, in Herzog Mts) and griseirostris (type from Mt Goliath, in E Oranje Mts/W Star Mts) represent hybrids. Five subspecies recognized.