Biak Monarch Symposiachrus brehmii Scientific name definitions

17 cm. A boldly patterned, black and cream-white monarch. Has narrow yellowish-white line around rear of ear-coverts; rest of head down to breast, and upperparts to lower back, black or blackish-brown, rump and uppertail-coverts white or whitish-cream; upperwing almost equally divided black and whitish, lesser wing-coverts to bend of wing black, median and greater coverts yellowish-white, and flight-feathers black except for yellowish-white on innermost tertial; tail with black central feathers, whitish outers; underparts pale yellowish to creamy; iris dark; bill and legs grey. Differs from Carterornis chrysomela in all-black head and face (and tail), and creamy white (not gold) in wing. Sexes similar, but female may have some white on throat and breast. Juvenile undescribed.

Islands of Biak and Supiori (Geelvink Bay), in NW New Guinea.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Geelvink Islands EBA. Scarce historically; only four recent records, of up to three individuals. Large areas of forest habitat on Biak have been destroyed by logging and for subsistence farming, and surviving forest is under increasing pressure. Supiori comprises impenetrable forested mountains which appear to be safe from degradation, and in which the species may prove to be present and widespread.