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Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti

The Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), also known as the green figbird, is a conspicuous, medium-sized passerine bird native to a wide range of wooded habitats in northern and eastern Australia, southern New Guinea, and the Kai Islands.

It is common in large parts of its range, and occurs in numerous protected areas. Consequently, it is rated as Least Concern by BirdLife International and the IUCN.

Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti

Range map
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there


Taxonomy and systematics
Formerly, the Australasian Figbird was considered as a subspecies of the green figbird and referred to as simply the figbird, a name still commonly used in Australia, where the Australasian Figbird is the only figbird present.

The Australasian Figbird was split from the green figbird primarily based on differences in measurements and plumage, and on biogeography. Additionally, the Australasian Figbird has sometimes been split into two separate species, the more northern, yellow figbird (S. flaviventris) and the green or southern figbird (S. vieilloti), but the two intergrade widely where they come into contact, supporting the view that they are part of a single biological species.

Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized:

• S. v. salvadorii – Sharpe, 1877: Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-eastern New Guinea

• S. v. cucullatus – (Rosenberg, HKB, 1866): Originally described as a separate species. Found on Kai Islands (off south-western New Guinea). Possibly a junior synonym of S. v. flaviventris

• S. v. ashbyi – Mathews, 1912: Found in northern Western Australia and Northern Territory, Australia

• Yellow figbird (S. v. flaviventris) – Gould, 1850: Originally described as a separate species. Alternatively named the northern figbird. Found in north-eastern Australia and Torres Strait Islands

• S. v. vieilloti – Vigors & Horsfield, 1827: Found in eastern Australia


Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Subspecies S. v. salvadorii, illustration by Keulemans, 1877
By Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum Volume 3,
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11054714


Description
The Australasian Figbird has a total length of 27–29.5 cm and a jizz comparable to that of other orioles. It is sexually dimorphic, and the racial differences are almost entirely limited to the male. Males of all subspecies have a black tail with broad white tips to the outer rectrices, white crissum (the undertail coverts surrounding the cloaca), blackish primaries, a black head, distinct bright red facial skin, a black bill with a red base, and pinkish legs.

In the nominate subspecies, the body is largely olive-green, and the throat, neck and chest are grey. The subspecies cucullatus, ashbyi and flaviventris are yellowish olive-green above, and bright yellow below (including the throat).

The last subspecies, salvadorii, resembles previous, but with a grey throat, collar and chest similar to the nominate subspecies,[5] thereby giving it an intermediate appearance not unlike some hybrids between the nominate and flaviventris subspecies in Australia.

Females are drab-coloured, being dull brownish above, and white below with strong dark streaking. They have greyish facial skin, and a greyish-black bill. Juveniles resemble females, but the streaking below is typically not as strong. The other orioles in its range, the brown and Olive-backed Orioles, are superficially similar, but have entirely red bills when adult.

Australasian Figbirds make a large number of different short calls, and are also able to mimic the voice of other birds, for example parrots and other species of orioles. The song consists of a series of simple whistles.

Listen to the Australasian Figbird

Remarks from the Recordist

Habitat: rainforest



Remarks from the Recordist

Habitat: botanic garden


www.xeno-canto.org


Behaviour and ecology
As suggested by their name, Australasian figbirds are largely frugivorous, but also take small insects, nectar and small seeds. While largely a resident species (although the southern population may be migratory), it is nomadic in response to the availability of food.

Unlike most orioles, Australasian figbirds are gregarious, often forming flocks of 20 to 40 birds during the non-breeding season, and even breeding in small, loose colonies. The flimsy saucer-shaped nest is made from plant-material, and usually placed relatively high in a tree.

The clutch of two to four eggs is incubated by both sexes, and typically hatches after 16–17 days. It has been recorded nesting near the aggressive Spangled Drongo and helmeted friarbird, possibly gaining an advantage as they keep potential nest-predators away. Australasian figbirds sometimes fall victim to nest parasitism by Pacific koels.

Conservation status
Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2017: e.T22706455A118671555.
doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22706455A118671555.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.birdforum.net


Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use) 19 of July 2016
Location: Cairns, Australia


Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Australasian Figbird - Sphecotheres vieilloti - 16 July 2016 - Cairns

Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Australasian Figbird - Sphecotheres vieilloti - 16 July 2016 - Cairns

Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Australasian Figbird - Sphecotheres vieilloti - 16 July 2016 - Cairns



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