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Pied Monarch (Arses kaupi) Alternate name(s): "Australian Pied Monarch", "Pied Flycatcher", "Kaup's Flycatcher", "Black-breasted Flycatcher", "Banded Monarch", "Pied Monarch-Flycatcher" Size: 14-16 cm Body mass: 12.5-15 g

Australia: Family Group 21 Family Group 21 Table White-eared Monarch Pied Monarch Frill-necked Monarch Black-faced Monarch Black-winged Monarch Spectacled Monarch Yellow-breasted Boatbill Broad-billed Flycatcher Leaden Flycatcher Satin Flycatcher Shining Flycatcher Restless Flycatcher Paperbark Flycatcher Rufous Fantail Arafura Fantail Mangrove Fantail Grey Fantail Northern Fantail Willie Wagtail Spangled Drongo Magpie-lark Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Pied Monarchs are small monarchs. Their plumage is all black-and-white. They have a black "helmet" and an erectile white collar and a white chin. The mantle, flight feathers and the uppertail are black, while the rump, lower back and scapulars are white. Also most of the front, except for a broad black chest band, is white. The only obvious difference between the sexes is that in males the black cap does not connect with the black chest band, while in females it does (near the ear coverts). The eyes are surrounded by wide, light-blue rings. Both sexes have dark irises. The small, straight bill is light-grey. Legs and feet are grey. Juveniles look like dirty adult females, with (partly vermiculated) grey where females are white, and a yellow bill.

Taxonomy, classification See Pied Monarch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Pied Monarch is available HERE . Pied Monarchs are endemic to Australia. They have a limited range, extending along the East coast of northern QLD, from Cape Tribulation in the North to northward of Townsville, QLD, in the South. Pied Monarchs have a preference for (near-coastal) rainforest and fringe vegetation around rainforest.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "kaupi" Both B. Hensen and M. Eaton report finding Pied Monarchs, race "kaupi", at Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, in November 2018. M. Eaton found another at Yungaburra, QLD, in August 2023. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours also reports finding a Pied Monarch, race "kaupi", at Peterson Creek, Yungaburra, QLD, in April 2022 and again in June 2024. Another was spotted in Malanda, QLD, in August 2024.

Photos

Race "kaupi"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Pied Monarchs, left, have a complete white collar. Females have a black bar down the sides of the neck, joining their black cap with the black breast band.

MALE

Frontal view of a male Pied Monarch; note the complete white collar
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Frontal view of a male Pied Monarch looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Near-frontal view of a male Pied Monarch looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Peterson Creek, Yungaburra, QLD, April 2022]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Peterson Creek, Yungaburra, QLD, June 2024]

Near-lateral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Lateral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Lateral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male Pied Monarch; note the complete white collar (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Partly obscured lateral view of a male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

FEMALE

Full-frontal view of a female Pied Monarch; note the black down the sides of the neck
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Pied Monarch; note how the black helmet connects to the black chest band
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda, QLD, August 2024]

Near-frontal view of a female Pied Monarch looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda, QLD, August 2024]

Near-frontal view of a female Pied Monarch looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda, QLD, August 2024]

Lateral view of a female Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view from above onto a female Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Peterson Creek, Yungaburra, QLD, April 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of an immature male Pied Monarch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an immature male Pied Monarch; note the juvenile flight feathers
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary

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