Streaked Berrypecker Melanocharis striativentris Scientific name definitions

12·7–14 cm. Medium-sized dull-coloured berrypecker lacking distinct male plumage. Male nominate race is olive-green above, outer rectrices with well-concealed white at bases; throat and underparts olive-grey, many feathers edged whitish or yellowish, giving streaked appearance (especially on lower breast and abdomen); underwing-coverts olive grey-brown; iris dark brown, distinctive dull buff eyering; bill blackish-brown, gape-line and nares orange-buff; legs dark brown. Distinguished from females of M. longicauda and M. versteri mainly by buff eyering, orange-buff gape and streaked appearance of underparts. Female is larger than male, but with shorter tail; plumage very similar, white at tail bases much reduced or absent. Immature is similar to adult, with tail as female, but gape and nares dull yellowish (not orange-tinged); young male has white in tail vestigial or absent. Races exhibit minor differences in coloration and tail patterning: axillaris has underparts heavily streaked, axillaries and underwing-coverts white, lacks white in tail; chrysocome is similar to nominate but slightly larger in size, with underparts darker, streaking less marked.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Forest, forest edge and secondary growth in mountains, from c. 1150 m to 2300 m, rarely as low as 500 m and as high as 2600 m. Overlaps with M. longicauda in lower-lying parts of range, and with M. versteri at higher levels.

Poorly understood. Has been suggested as being locally nomadic, as it seems to be absent from some areas at times; secretive behaviour, however, complicates the picture.

Few data. Known to take small berries. Frequents shrubs and middle levels of habitat. Quite a secretive species, easily overlooked or misidentified; seems less active than congeners. In parts of range where co-exists with M. longicauda and M. versteri, habitat-partitioning mechanism not known.

Little known. A scratchy “schree schree schree”, supposedly harsher than similar sounds of congeners; also has distinctive loud “seep”, repeated every few seconds.

Poorly known. Nests have been found in Dec in SE New Guinea. Nest a cup-shaped structure, similar to that of M. nigra but larger and tapering a little below, built of fine fibre-like fern parts, smoothly felted, covered externally with plant down and spider silk, which bind nest to supporting branch, and decorated on outside with green lichen, which may help to camouflage it; two nests were placed on downward-sloping twigs or stems. Clutch 2 eggs, pinkish-white with dark streaking and blotching mainly in zone around larger end, like those of M. nigra but larger and with darker markings. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Mostly uncommon to rare; described as common to abundant in a few areas. Has wide, albeit patchy, distribution, and seemingly absent from many areas. A rather poorly known species; conservation status possibly merits reassessment and may be better considered Data-deficient.