Proposed subspecies intermedius (described from upper Setekwa R, in Snow Mts) synonymized with chrysopterus.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
magnificus (Pennant, 1781) - West Papuan Is (Salawati) and north-western New Guinea (northern and eastern Vogelkop, Wandammen Peninsula and Onin Peninsula).
chrysopterus Elliot, DG, 1873 - Yapen I (in Geelvink Bay) and western and central New Guinea east to mountains of Jimi R and Sepik-Wahgi Divide, also Adelbert Range.
hunsteini Meyer, AB, 1885 - Eastern and south-eastern New Guinea from upper Fly R region (eastern along southern scarp of central Cordillera), Wahgi region and Huon Peninsula.