Yellow-browed Melidectes (Melidectes rufocrissalis) [XC279360]
by John V. Moore from \, Papua New Guinea (call)
Yellow-browed Melidectes (Melidectes rufocrissalis) [XC561231]
by id from Bilbilokabip, Ok Tedi headwaters, Western Province, Papua New Guinea (call?)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Vogelkop Honeyeater (Melidectes leucostephes), Belford's Honeyeater (Melidectes belfordi) and Huon Honeyeater (Melidectes foersteri) and all, along with Cinnamon-browed Honeyeater (Melidectes ochromelas) and Ornate Honeyeater (Melidectes torquatus), comprise a group of relatively large species that differ from others in genus in size, morphology, plumage and voice. Sometimes treated as conspecific with Belford's Honeyeater (Melidectes belfordi), and on Mt Koimjim (in Schrader Mts) the two co-occur but appear to exclude each other altitudinally. They hybridize freely, however, where they come into contact; Herzog Mts, much of Eastern Highlands, Mt Goliath (in eastern Star Mts) and northern slopes of Snow Mts may once have supported both species, but hybrid populations now found extensively through these areas (although populations of northern slopes of Snow Mts are almost pure Belford's Honeyeater (Melidectes belfordi)). Has been suggested that subspecies thomasi is of hybrid origin on basis of its black forehead. This subspecies was originally described under name gilliardi, but that name invalid, as preoccupied. Precise geographical limits of each subspecies complicated by extensive hybridization with Belford's Honeyeater (Melidectes belfordi).
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
rufocrissalis (Reichenow, 1915) - Central Range of New Guinea, from eastern Star Mts and Hindenburg Range east to Bismarck Range, Mt Hagen and Kubor Mts.
thomasi Diamond, 1969 - Southern slopes of eastern Highlands from at least Okapa to Mt Karimui and in Morobe Province (in Aseki area).
stresemanni Mayr, 1931 - Herzog Mts. (eastern New Guinea).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet