Black-winged Monarch (Monarcha frater) by Ian

From: Ian Montgomery
Newsletter 12/7/2009

Subject: Bird of the Week: Black-winged Monarch

Black-winged Monarch (Monarcha frater) by Ian

If you live on the east coast of Australia, you may be familiar with the very similar Black-faced Monarch. The Black-winged Monarch, distinguishable by paler grey upper parts and contrasting black wings, is, however, a Cape York specialty migrating from PNG in the southern summer to breed along the northeast coast of the Peninsula south to about the McIlwraith Ranges north of Coen.

It’s not a well-known species, and until fairly recently hadn’t been photographed. That, I’m sure, has all changed now with a steady stream of digitally armed birders making the pilgrimage to Lockhart River, where these photos were taken, and the nearby Iron Range National Park. Anyway, I was glad of the opportunity last week to improve on the two mediocre shots on the Birdway website taken on my first visit there almost 6 years ago.

Links:
Black-winged Monarch (the original photos)
Black-faced Monarch

Best wishes,
Ian
—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: +61-7 4751 3115
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

When I think of the Monarch, my first thoughts are of a Monarch Butterfly, but the Monarch birds are very interesting. There are 47 Monarchs in Monarchidae Family of the Passeriformes Order. Also included in the family are Paradise and Crested Flycatchers, an Elepaio, Shrikebills, a Silktail, Magpielark, Torrentlark, and the Myiagra genus of Flycatchers. (Total of 93)
Here are some more of Ian’s Photos from the Monarchidae Family:
Broad-billed Flycatcher
Leaden Flycatcher
Shining Flycatcher
Restless Flycatcher
White-eared Monarch
Spectacled Monarch
Magpielark
Frilled Monarch
Pied Monarch

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32 NKJV)

Black-faced Monarch by Nick Talbot

Also see:

Monarch Flycatchers – Wikipedia