Just back from a PNG trip and very interested to see a couple of pics 
of the possible Hooded Monarch, a species I have seen a few times 
around Lae and Madang on the north slope of the island,  and also at 
Kiunga in swamp forest along the Fly River, where it is very scarce and 
elusive.
For what it's worth:
 This is an odd bird but but I fear clearly not a Hooded Monarch.  I 
think the structure indicates a Myiagra and not a Monarcha, with the 
longish tail and broad based bill and a hint of a peaked crown.  Hooded 
Monarch is black above, not grey, and the black on the chest comes down 
as a bib further than on this bird, with white sides to the bib shape. 
Wings, tail and mantle colour look like typical Leaden Flycatcher to 
me, but the apparently bluish bill is anomalous for sure.
Are hybrids with Satin Flycatcher recorded? That might explain the dark 
head and chest. Clearly a very strange beast, I wonder what it sounded 
like? Hooded Monarch has a plaintive whistled series typical of the 
black and white monarchs in NG, nothing like the calls of Leaden 
Flycatcher.
Cheers
Phil Gregory
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