Jewel-babblers and allies (Eupetidae)

Greater Melampitta (Melampitta gigantea) - HBW 12, p. 373

French: Grande Mélampitte German: Rußflöter Spanish: Melampita Grande
Other common names: Giant False Pitta

Taxonomy: Mellopitta gigantea Rothschild, 1899, Mount Moari, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea.
True affinities of genus uncertain; possibly belongs in a family of its own; has sometimes been linked with Paradisaeidae, but congeneric M. lugubris differs from that family in having downy nestlings and in not feeding them by regurgitation (details currently unknown for present species). Monotypic.

Distribution: W, N & far SE New Guinea: Vogelkop (Arfak Mts), Bomberai Peninsula (Fakfak Mts, Kumawa Mts), S slopes of Snow Mts (R Utakwa, R Setekwa), Torricelli Mts (Mt Somoro) and SE end of Central Dividing Range (Mt Mura).