Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

Vogelkop Honeyeater (Melidectes leucostephes) - HBW 13, p. 612

French: Méliphage à face blanche German: Diademhonigfresser Spanish: Mielero de Vogelkop
Other common names: Vogelkop/Arfak/White-fronted Melidectes, Vogelkop Wattled/White-capped/White-fronted(!) Honeyeater

Taxonomy: Melirrhophetes leucostephes A. B. Meyer, 1874, Hatam, Arfak Mountains, Vogelkop Peninsula, north-west New Guinea.
Study of relationships within genus needed. Forms a superspecies with M. belfordi, 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. belfordi. Monotypic.

Distribution: Mountains of Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts) and Bomberai Peninsula (Fakfak Mts, Kumawa Mts), in NW New Guinea.