The island monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found from Sulawesi to the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
Sulawesi to the Solomon Islands
Typical Environment
Found throughout Wallacea and into Melanesia, including Sulawesi, the Moluccas, New Guinea region, Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. It occupies subtropical and tropical moist lowland and hill forests, as well as moist montane margins. The species readily uses forest edges, secondary growth, and small offshore islands with remnant woodland. It forages from the understory to the midstory and canopy, often along gaps and stream corridors.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A widespread monarch flycatcher, it inhabits many small islands and tolerates secondary growth as well as primary forest. It often joins mixed-species flocks and forages actively by sallying and gleaning. The neat cup nest is typically placed on a horizontal fork or suspended from a slender branch. Plumage varies across numerous subspecies, which can cause confusion with similar monarchs.
Temperament
active and alert, territorial in breeding season
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile sallies between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs within territories, but frequently associates with mixed-species flocks while foraging. Pairs build a small, neat cup nest placed on a horizontal fork or suspended from a thin branch. Both sexes are believed to participate in incubation and feeding of nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of thin, whistled phrases repeated at intervals, interspersed with soft chips. Alarm notes are sharper scolds delivered rapidly when intruders approach the nest.
Plumage
Darker slaty-gray to brownish upperparts with clean whitish throat, breast, and belly; some subspecies show a warm rufous wash on the flanks or back. A narrow dark mask runs through the eye, and the bill is slightly hooked at the tip. Wings are plain with subtle edging; tail moderately long.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as beetles, flies, moths and their larvae, spiders, and other canopy invertebrates. It captures prey by sallying from exposed perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Occasional hovering snatches are used to take prey from foliage, and it may take small berries opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in forest midstory and canopy, especially along edges, gaps, and stream margins where prey is more exposed. Often accompanies mixed-species foraging flocks and patrols linear routes through territories.
