Whistlers (Pachycephalidae)
Goldenface (Pachycare flavogriseum) - HBW 12, p. 409
French: Pachycare nain
German: Goldstirn-Dickkopf
Spanish: Silbador Enano
Other common names: Dwarf Whistler, Golden-faced Pachycare, Grey-and-yellow Flycatcher
Taxonomy: Pachycephala flavogrisea A. B. Meyer, 1874, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea.
Affinities uncertain. Bright yellow underparts and strong voice suggest possible relationship with the whistlers, but other plumage characters, and behaviour, indicate less of a connection; alliance with Australasian robins (Petroicidae) suggested by some authors; nest, however, is unlike those of other members of present family or those of petroicids. Closest relatives perhaps in the family Acanthizidae, some members of which have nest architecture similar to that of present species. Further research required. Racial identification of museum specimens possibly confounded by post-mortem fadin.. View all taxonomy...
Affinities uncertain. Bright yellow underparts and strong voice suggest possible relationship with the whistlers, but other plumage characters, and behaviour, indicate less of a connection; alliance with Australasian robins (Petroicidae) suggested by some authors; nest, however, is unlike those of other members of present family or those of petroicids. Closest relatives perhaps in the family Acanthizidae, some members of which have nest architecture similar to that of present species. Further research required. Racial identification of museum specimens possibly confounded by post-mortem fading of underpart colour; races subpallidum and subaurantium grade into each other in Sepik Mts. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- flavogriseum ( A. B. Meyer, 1874) - Vogelkop (Arfak Mts, Tamrau Mts) and Wandammen Mts, in W New Guinea.
- subaurantium Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1911 - C New Guinea in Weyland Mts, S slopes of Nassau Mts, Oranje Mts and Victor Emanuel Mts E probably to Mt Karimui.
- randi Gilliard, 1961 - R Idenburg, in N New Guinea.
- subpallidum E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - New Guinea E & SE from Torricelli Mts, Sepik Mts, Huon Peninsula (Saruwaged Mts), Herzog Mts and, in S, Eastern Highlands Province (probably from Okasa).
- Least Concern
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