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'''Disambiguation''': Not to be confused with the [[Australasian Figbird]], where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).<br /> | '''Disambiguation''': Not to be confused with the [[Australasian Figbird]], where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).<br /> | ||
| + | [[Image:Timor Figbird male.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Subspecies ''S. v. flaviventris'', male<br />Photo © by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br /> Darwin, [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]]] | ||
'''Alternative name: Timor Figbird'''. | '''Alternative name: Timor Figbird'''. | ||
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;[[:Category:Sphecotheres|Sphecotheres]] viridis | ;[[:Category:Sphecotheres|Sphecotheres]] viridis | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
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Essentially unmistakable, but the streaky females and juveniles can be confused with the [[Olive-backed Oriole]], [[Olive-brown Oriole]] and juvenile [[Short-tailed Starling]]. | Essentially unmistakable, but the streaky females and juveniles can be confused with the [[Olive-backed Oriole]], [[Olive-brown Oriole]] and juvenile [[Short-tailed Starling]]. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:Timor Figbird female.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''S. v. flaviventris'', female<br />Photo © by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br /> Darwin, [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]]] | ||
Eastern Lesser Sundas on [[Timor]] and the nearby islands of Roti and Semau. See also taxonomy. | Eastern Lesser Sundas on [[Timor]] and the nearby islands of Roti and Semau. See also taxonomy. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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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 essentially follow Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split. | 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 essentially follow Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split. | ||
Revision as of 22:43, 25 July 2018
Disambiguation: Not to be confused with the Australasian Figbird, where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).
Alternative name: Timor Figbird.
- Sphecotheres viridis
Identification
28cm.
- Black head
- Red around the eyes
- Green on wings
- Back and yellow throat and belly
Similar Species
Essentially unmistakable, but the streaky females and juveniles can be confused with the Olive-backed Oriole, Olive-brown Oriole and juvenile Short-tailed Starling.
Distribution
Eastern Lesser Sundas on Timor and the nearby islands of Roti and Semau. See also taxonomy.
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 essentially follow 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, incl. 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 and southern New Guinea), 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 presumed hybrid male), suggesting that flaviventris is best considered a subspecies of S. vieilloti.
Habitat
Forest, woodland and mangrove.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes figs, other soft fruits and berries, insects.
Breeding
It builds a cup-shaped nest from vine tendrils and twigs, attached by rim to a horizontal fork of an outer branch of tall tree. 2-3 eggs are laid.
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. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. 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 December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). 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.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Green Figbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Figbird
