Torrent-lark Grallina bruijnii Scientific name definitions

c. 20 cm; male 40–41 g, female 38–40 g. Male  has white line above eye, large white patch from ear-coverts down to side of neck; rest of head, upperparts to rump, and throat and breast black; uppertail-coverts and undertail-coverts pale buff, tail buffy white basally with broad black subterminal band; upperwing black, most of secondary wing-coverts white; lower underparts white, under­surface of wing black; iris dark brown; bill lead-grey to pale blue-grey, tip whitish; legs blue-grey. Female differs from male in having black head with white band extending from base of bill through and above eye and expanding onto side of neck; breast and underwing-coverts white; flanks and lower abdomen pale buff. Juvenile is similar to female, but has area between base of bill and eye black, and remaining dark areas of plumage very dark brown (instead of black).

Hills and mountains of New Guinea.

Near small, fast-flowing streams in rainforest and open grassland, mainly between 400 m and 2300 m; to 2800 m in Snow Mts.

Very little information. Adults believed sedentary, juveniles presumably dispersive; some altitudinal movement possible. Individuals or groups travel between streams.

Invertebrates; small lizards occasionally caught and eaten. Forages on ground, mostly at edges and on exposed rocks and gravels of streams and on roads; mainly in shallows of streams, searching among boulders and fallen trees in and beside rushing water; takes items from surface of water. Sometimes captures aerial prey by sallying briefly into the air, usually from ground but sometimes from low perch. Very active, constantly calling and flying about; persistently wags tail from side to side, also fans wings. In pairs or small parties.

Loud, penetrating, buzzy call notes  "jjirrreee" or "bzzzeee", or series of notes, often considered harsh and unpleasant, also upslurred calls, far-carrying and clearly audible against background noise of streams. Male recorded as giving nasal, buzzy "k-zaaat" during raised-wing display.

Few observations. Nests recorded Jun–Jan, predominantly dry season. Nest cup-shaped, made from mud and rootlets, placed on branch of tree or bush close to stream; clutch probably 1–4 eggs. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout most of range; perhaps locally uncommon, at least in E half of range. Distributed over large part of New Guinea in hill and mountain areas, and habitat likely to be reasonably secure owing to remoteness and rugged nature of terrain. Considered not to be at any risk, at least in immediate future.