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;[[:Category:Sphecotheres|Sphecotheres]] vieilloti | ;[[:Category:Sphecotheres|Sphecotheres]] vieilloti | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 25-29cm. | + | 25-29cm (9¾-11½ in). <br /> |
Two Australian races: males differ, females similar.<br /> | Two Australian races: males differ, females similar.<br /> | ||
Race ''flaviventris'' "Yellow Figbird" (tropical north Australia): male: bright yellow throat/breast; white underparts. <br />Race ''vieilloti'' "green figbird" (coastal east Australia); male: throat/upperbreast/collar mid-grey; flanks green; underparts white.<br /> | Race ''flaviventris'' "Yellow Figbird" (tropical north Australia): male: bright yellow throat/breast; white underparts. <br />Race ''vieilloti'' "green figbird" (coastal east Australia); male: throat/upperbreast/collar mid-grey; flanks green; underparts white.<br /> | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
There are conflicting taxonomic treatments for the figbirds. Previously, ''Sphecotheres vieilloti'' and ''[[Sphecotheres viridis|S. viridis]]'' were treated as a single widespread species, the Figbird (''Sphecotheres viridis''). Some Australian field guides continue to consider the two a single species, but following Schodde & Mason (1999), which largely follow White & Bruce (1986) and Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split. | There are conflicting taxonomic treatments for the figbirds. Previously, ''Sphecotheres vieilloti'' and ''[[Sphecotheres viridis|S. viridis]]'' were treated as a single widespread species, the Figbird (''Sphecotheres viridis''). Some Australian field guides continue to consider the two a single species, but following Schodde & Mason (1999), which largely follow White & Bruce (1986) and Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Fig Bird.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Mzungu|Mzungu}}<br />Wellington Point, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] December 2015]] | |
Among the sources that treat these as separate species, there is not an agreement on which subspecies belong to which species; specifically in regards of ''flaviventris''. The problem relates to the background used for the split. The first possibility, as recommended by most authorities, including the earlier mentioned sources and Howard & Moore, mainly rely on size, zoo-geography and hybridization. Following this taxonomy, ''S. vieilloti'' includes nominate (''S. v. vieilloti''; eastern Australia, southern [[New Guinea]] and Kai Islands), ''ashbyi'' (northern Australia) and ''flaviventris'' (northern [[Australia]]), while ''S. viridis'', based on its small size, its green throat and chest, and its isolated distribution, is considered a monotypic species restricted to the eastern [[Lesser Sundas]]. | Among the sources that treat these as separate species, there is not an agreement on which subspecies belong to which species; specifically in regards of ''flaviventris''. The problem relates to the background used for the split. The first possibility, as recommended by most authorities, including the earlier mentioned sources and Howard & Moore, mainly rely on size, zoo-geography and hybridization. Following this taxonomy, ''S. vieilloti'' includes nominate (''S. v. vieilloti''; eastern Australia, southern [[New Guinea]] and Kai Islands), ''ashbyi'' (northern Australia) and ''flaviventris'' (northern [[Australia]]), while ''S. viridis'', based on its small size, its green throat and chest, and its isolated distribution, is considered a monotypic species restricted to the eastern [[Lesser Sundas]]. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
#Andrew (1992). ''The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list.'' Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta. | #Andrew (1992). ''The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list.'' Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta. | ||
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}# {{Ref-HM03Cor8}}# Schodde & Mason (1999). ''Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines.'' CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567 |
| − | # | ||
| − | # Schodde & Mason (1999). ''Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines.'' CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567 | ||
#White & Bruce (1986). ''The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia).'' BOU Check-list Ser. 7: 1-524. London. | #White & Bruce (1986). ''The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia).'' BOU Check-list Ser. 7: 1-524. London. | ||
#BF Member Observations | #BF Member Observations | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Sphecotheres+vieilloti}} | {{GSearch|Sphecotheres+vieilloti}} | ||
Revision as of 23:24, 27 December 2015
Alternative names: Australian Figbird, Yellow Figbird (race flaviventris), Southern or Green Figbird (race vieilloti; see taxonomy)
Photo by Tom Tarrant
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, April 2005
- Sphecotheres vieilloti
Identification
25-29cm (9¾-11½ in).
Two Australian races: males differ, females similar.
Race flaviventris "Yellow Figbird" (tropical north Australia): male: bright yellow throat/breast; white underparts.
Race vieilloti "green figbird" (coastal east Australia); male: throat/upperbreast/collar mid-grey; flanks green; underparts white.
Female: bill dark brown; upperparts dull brown with bare grey-brown skin around eye; underparts whitish, heavily streaked dark brown, so heavily on throat as to apear dark brown.
Immature: pale scallops on wing feathers; young males show shadowy adult markings.
Similar Species
Males are easily recognized, but the streaky females and immatures can be confused with the Olive-backed Oriole, Brown Oriole, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird and juvenile Metallic Starling.
Distribution
Northern and eastern Australia, south-eastern New Guinea and the Kai Islands (Indonesia).
See also taxomomy.
Taxonomy
There are conflicting taxonomic treatments for the figbirds. Previously, Sphecotheres vieilloti and S. viridis were treated as a single widespread species, the Figbird (Sphecotheres viridis). Some Australian field guides continue to consider the two a single species, but following Schodde & Mason (1999), which largely follow White & Bruce (1986) and Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split.
Among the sources that treat these as separate species, there is not an agreement on which subspecies belong to which species; specifically in regards of flaviventris. The problem relates to the background used for the split. The first possibility, as recommended by most authorities, including the earlier mentioned sources and Howard & Moore, mainly rely on size, zoo-geography and hybridization. Following this taxonomy, S. vieilloti includes nominate (S. v. vieilloti; eastern Australia, southern New Guinea and Kai Islands), ashbyi (northern Australia) and flaviventris (northern Australia), while S. viridis, based on its small size, its green throat and chest, and its isolated distribution, is considered a monotypic species restricted to the eastern Lesser Sundas.
On the contrary, Clements base the split on morphology, specifically the colour of the throat and chest in the male. Male flaviventris has a yellow throat and chest rather similar to the green throat and chest of male viridis, but unlike the grey throat and chest of males vieilloti and ashbyi. Hence, following this treatment, flaviventris is considered a subspecies of S. viridis (i.e. S. viridis flaviventris) rather than a subspecies of S. vieilloti (i.e. S. vieilloti flaviventris). This, however, is questionable, as flaviventris interbreeds widely with vieilloti where their ranges meet in Australia (photo of a presumed hybrid male), suggesting that flaviventris is best considered a subspecies of S. vieilloti.
An additional problem relates to the subspecies recognized. In addition to the four previously named taxa (viridis, flaviventris, vieilloti and ashbyi), Howard and Moore recognized cucullatus from the Kai Islands and salvadorii from south-eastern New Guinea. Clements do not recognize these two as distinct subspecies, and instead include the population from south-eastern New Guinea in vieilloti and the populations the Kai Islands in flaviventris.
Female
Photo by Bruce Ramsay
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, June 2008
Immature
aussietrev
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, January 2008
Habitat
Diverse: rainforest edges, swamps, forests, woodlands; suburban and urban parks and gardens
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes figs, cherries, ink weed and tobacco bush, bananas, guavas, and mulberries.
Breeding
It builds a flimsy, and saucer-shaped nest from plant fibre and tendrils. Three eggs are laid and are incubated by both parents; additional birds may help feed the young.
References
- Andrew (1992). The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list. Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to October 2008 (Corrigenda 8). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- Schodde & Mason (1999). Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567
- White & Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). BOU Check-list Ser. 7: 1-524. London.
- BF Member Observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Australasian Figbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Australasian_Figbird
External Links
