Arses telescopthalmus
The Frilled Monarch (Arses telescopthalmus) is a visually striking passerine bird, renowned for its distinctive nuchal frill and acrobatic foraging style. Measuring approximately 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 in) in length and weighing 11-15 grams, males exhibit a glossy blue-black head, neck, mantle, and upper breast, contrasting sharply with a bright white nuchal frill that can be erected at will. Their lower breast, belly, and vent are a vibrant rufous, accented by a prominent white wing stripe and a ...
This species primarily inhabits lowland tropical rainforests, monsoon forests, and mangrove ecosystems, typically found from sea level up to elevations of about 1000 meters.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of small invertebrates, primarily insects and their larvae, which they glean from tree trunks and branches.
Frilled Monarchs are diurnal and highly active, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs, though they may occasionally join mixed-species feeding flocks. Their foraging strategy is exceptionally unique; they are arboreal gleaners that specialize in spiraling up tree trunks and branches, fre...
The Frilled Monarch has a relatively widespread distribution across the tropical lowland forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia, along with several associated satellite islands. In Australia, its range extends from the Cape York Peninsula southwards to the Paluma Range in Queensland, pr...
Least Concern
- The Frilled Monarch is famous for its 'corkscrew' foraging technique, spiraling up tree trunks and branches while frequently hanging upside down, making it one of the most acrobatic foragers in its habitat. - Its common name comes from the prominent white nuchal 'frill' or crest on the back of ...