Tit Berrypecker Oreocharis arfaki Scientific name definitions

12–14 cm; 16·5–21·7 g. Male has large yellow area on side of head (encompassing cheek and ear-coverts); rest of head, side of lower neck, throat and bib on upper breast black; upperparts olive-green, uppertail-coverts blue-grey; flight-feathers black with green edges, tertials each with prominent pale yellow terminal spot on outer web; upper surface of tail blue-grey, becoming darker towards tip; underparts below bib bright yellow, large central area on abdomen burnt orange; iris dark olive-brown; bill black; legs greyish-brown to dark brown. Female is obscure-looking, but with diagnostic yellow spotting on tertials (as in male) and scalloping on flanks; top of head olive-green with or without indistinct darker mottling, yellower on cap and sides of neck, rest of upper surface similar to that of male; cheek and ear-coverts grey, lightly mottled whitish, throat and bib (on upper breast) plain grey, lower breast and flanks yellow with dusky scalloping, abdomen yellowish-white with obscure dusky scalloping; iris brownish-grey; bill black; legs grey-brown to light brown or pale grey. Juvenile and immature are similar to female.

Mountains of New Guinea: Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts, Arfak Mts), Wandammen Mts, Foja Mts, Bewani Mts, Torricelli Mts, Central Ranges, and mountains of Huon Peninsula.

Montane forest, especially mossy forest; also visits disturbed and partly cleared habitat. Mainly between 2200 m and 2800 m, occasionally as low as 850 m and as high as 3650 m.

Resident; probably locally nomadic.

Diet as indicated by stomach contents entirely small fruits. Observed to probe a flower, and reported also as feeding on blossoms of a stinging tree. Fruits, from a variety of trees and shrubs, usually swallowed whole. Moves about in pairs, in small groups and in loose flocks of five to 30 or more individuals. Visits various fruiting trees, shrubs and plants, including Schefflera, a Pipturus tree and a Nothocnide vine. Forages  mostly in canopy but also at middle level of forest, and occasionally in forest-edge shrubbery.

Calls  typically shrill and wheezy, and frequently uttered, including fine “tzee-tzee”  and long fine wheeze, reminiscent of calls of a pygmy-parrot (Micropsitta); described also as a very high, drawn-out “sss” or “z-z-z”, similar to call of Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum).

Few data collected to date. In W part of range, two males with enlarged gonads in Oct and Feb; in E, males with enlarged gonads in Aug–Oct, female in breeding condition in Oct, and fledged young observed in Jul. Nest reported as cup-shaped, composed of moss; incubation said to be undertaken by both sexes; two fledglings seen to be fed by both parents. No other information available.

Not globally threatened. Generally common throughout range. No known threats, but some habitat loss in some parts of range.