Region

Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia

Typical Environment

Endemic to Kofiau and nearby islets, occupying primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest. It favors dense interior forest but also occurs along forest edges, creek lines, and lightly disturbed areas with tall canopy. Birds typically hold territories that include shaded perches for hunting and access to suitable nesting substrates such as arboreal termite mounds. Human settlements and extensive clearing limit its occurrence outside intact forest blocks.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 400 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Temperament

shy and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with swift, low darts between perches

Social Behavior

Usually seen singly or in pairs that defend forest territories. Pairs are presumed monogamous and nest in cavities excavated in arboreal termite mounds or soft rotting wood. Both sexes participate in territory defense and provisioning of young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A series of clear, piping whistles and descending notes delivered from shaded perches. Calls can carry through dense forest and often precede brief foraging sallies.

Diet

Primarily arthropods such as beetles, orthopterans, spiders, and caterpillars taken by sallying from low to mid-level perches. It may also take small lizards or other small vertebrates opportunistically. Prey is typically seized on the ground, from foliage, or tree trunks and subdued by beating against a perch.

Preferred Environment

Hunts within the shaded understory to mid-story of intact lowland rainforest and along forest edges. Often selects quiet, semi-open gaps within dense forest where perches overlook leaf litter or trunks.