Lesser Ground-Robin Amalocichla incerta Scientific name definitions

14–15 cm; 30–31 g. Nominate race has crown and upperparts deep brown to rufous-brown, whitish spot on side of forehead, brown side of head ; wing dusky brown, remiges with outer webs edged rufous-brown, rufous spot near base of inner web (except for outer four primaries); tail dusky brown, rectrices with outer webs tinged brownish-rufous; chin, throat and side of neck whitish, breast and flanks medium rusty brown, belly white, undertail-coverts pale rufous; under­wing with pale stripe across bases of remiges; iris brown; bill black; legs grey or grey-brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult in having buffy-brown spotting on crown and side of head, rich rufous spotting on back and upperwing-coverts, and dark brown mottling on underparts, most heavily on breast; whitish loral spot initially absent. Race olivascentior has upperparts deeper brown with reduced rufous wash, white throat feathers tipped black, breast and flanks more greyish-brown; brevicauda has white on belly reduced.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Recently found, unknown race, in Kumawa Mts (2 Diamond, J., and K. D. Bishop (2015). Avifaunas of the Kumawa and Fakfak Mountains, Indonesian New Guinea. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 135(4):292–336. Close ).

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.

Song described as a light breezy whistle of several notes; single individual produces two different songs of 8 notes, first one largely descending  and the second at about same pitch for most of duration, alternating these songs as it moves such that they are not given at same place (previously thought to involve duetting by two individuals). Call a short, high nasal buzz followed by harsh “ch-ch-ch-ch-ch” chatter.

Nest with single egg in mid-Oct and nest with hatching egg in early Jan; juvenile in Dec. Nest an open cup composed primarily of moss , with blades of grass and fine rootlets, lined with dry grasses, internal measurements 4 cm across and 3 cm deep, placed on ground close to moss-covered tree root and surrounded by fallen leaves, sticks, etc.; once 1·2 m above ground on bed of moss 5 cm deep in tree hole 30 cm deep, with opening on each side, tree diameter 20 cm. Clutch 1 egg, whitish, with a few small brownish-black spots mostly at larger end, or with fine chocolate-brown spotting all over, size 28 × 19·5 mm; no information on incubation and nestling periods.