Torrent Flyrobin Monachella muelleriana Scientific name definitions

Taxonomic note: Lump. This account is a combination of multiple species accounts originally published in HBW Alive. That content has been combined and labeled here at the subspecies level. Moving forward we will create a more unified account for this parent taxon. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

14–15 cm; 23–28 g. Adult has crown brownish black, back pale grey  , rump white; large white spot between base of maxilla and eye; upperwing and tail brownish black; neck-sides, throat and underparts white; iris dark brown; bill black; legs blackish brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile lacks white facial spot, has feathers tipped with contrasting colour.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

14–15 cm. Adult has crown brownish black, indistinct narrow grey hindcollar (rarely visible in field), grey upperparts including rump and uppertail-coverts; large white patch between base of maxilla and eye, bordered below by narrow brown loral line; upperwing and tail brownish black; chin to throat and neck-sides white, underparts from breast to flanks and vent pale grey (whiter central belly); iris dark brown; bill black; legs blackish brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile lacks white forehead spots, has feathers of crown and mantle tipped whitish/buff, wing-coverts and tail feathers with pale tips, upper breast with faint pale mottling, bare parts paler than adult.

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Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

New Guinea.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

New Britain, in Bismarck Archipelago.

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Fast-moving open rivers and streams with protruding boulders and sufficient vegetation-free space over them; mainly in hills and lower mountains to 1800 m, occasionally to 2130 m, also in lowlands, particularly near hills. Has been observed up to 100 m from streambeds.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Fast-flowing open rivers and streams with protruding boulders offering plenty of vegetation-free space. Utilizes sections of streams with open space around, as found within small landslips (1 Dutson, G. (2011). Birds of Melanesia: The Bismarcks, Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Mainly in hills, but also in lowlands, particularly near hills; 300–750 m. Occasionally observed away from stream.

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Presumably sedentary.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Insects. Prey captured by making aerial sallies from exposed perch such as rock, exposed riverbed, fallen log, dead snag, overhanging branch, horizontal branch in nearby clearing or garden area; may occasionally take items from ground. Recorded also as sally-snatching at foliage, branches and trunks of Casuarina and broadleaf trees overhanging stream, and sometimes gleaning from rocks, banks and tree trunks (2 Donaghey, R.H. (2017). Observations of nesting in the Papuan Flyrobin and the Olive Flyrobin, and post-fledging care in the Torrent Flycatcher, all endemic to New Guinea. Austr. Field Orn.. 34(2): 111–115. Close ).

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Song a short high-pitched piping whistle , singly or as descending accelerating series.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Nestlings in early Aug, late Sept and early Nov, and individuals in juvenile plumage mid Oct to mid Nov, indicating breeding during latter half of dry season (when river levels low), at least. Nest a neat shallow cup of thin rootlets and lichens on foundation of rootlets and mud, with moss on exterior, external diameter 9–9·2 cm, height 6–6·7 cm, internal diameter 6–6·5 cm, depth c. 2–2·5 cm; built around slender limb, once c. 2·5 m above water on ledge of large boulder (30 cm below its top, where grass was growing) in river. Clutch two eggs, described as pale brown with darker brown patches; no information on incubation and nestling periods; recent observations of both adults feeding two fledglings and of an immature twice feeding one of the same fledglings (2 Donaghey, R.H. (2017). Observations of nesting in the Papuan Flyrobin and the Olive Flyrobin, and post-fledging care in the Torrent Flycatcher, all endemic to New Guinea. Austr. Field Orn.. 34(2): 111–115. Close ).

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

No information. Breeding ecology presumably similar to that of M. muelleriana.

Torrent Flycatcher (Torrent)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common, although often scarce. Widely distributed on mainland New Guinea. Has been observed at density of 1 pair for every 200 m of stream. Probably present on all suitable streams. There is no evidence for any declines in this species’ numbers, and it does not face any significant threats.

Torrent Flycatcher (New Britain)

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: confined to a single island within the New Britain and New Ireland EBA. Very local, with very few confirmed localities. Recent records from only four rivers (in E New Britain). Present population calculated as numbering at the very most 600–1700 mature individuals. Believed to be stable, as no evidence for any real declines or significant threats. Reasons for this species’ sparse and restricted distribution are unclear. It appears to tolerate habitat disturbance as it occurs in degraded areas.