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Difference between revisions of "Green Figbird" - BirdForum Opus

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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
[[Image:Timor Figbird female.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''S. v. flaviventris'', female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br /> Darwin, [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]]]   
 
[[Image:Timor Figbird female.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''S. v. flaviventris'', female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br /> Darwin, [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]]]   
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Eastern Lesser Sundas on [[Timor]] and the nearby islands of Roti and Semau. See also taxonomy.
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Eastern Lesser Sundas on [[Timor]] and the nearby islands of Rote 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.
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
  
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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.
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In the past, Green Figbird and [[Australasian Figbird]] were considered one species, seemingly together with [[Wetar Figbird]].  
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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 [http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=102814 hybrid male]), suggesting that ''flaviventris'' is best considered a subspecies of ''S. vieilloti''.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Forest, woodland and mangrove.
 
Forest, woodland and mangrove.
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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.
 
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==
 
==References==
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#Andrew (1992). ''The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list.'' Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Andrew (1992). ''The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list.'' Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-HM03Cor7}}#Schodde & Mason (1999). ''Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines.'' CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567
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#{{Ref-HM03Cor7}}#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.
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}

Revision as of 01:20, 23 May 2021

Disambiguation: Not to be confused with the Australasian Figbird, where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).

Subspecies S. v. flaviventris, male
Photo © by tcollins
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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

Subspecies S. v. flaviventris, female
Photo © by tcollins
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Eastern Lesser Sundas on Timor and the nearby islands of Rote and Semau. See also taxonomy.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

In the past, Green Figbird and Australasian Figbird were considered one species, seemingly together with Wetar Figbird.

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

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Andrew (1992). The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list. Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
  3. 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
  4. Schodde & Mason (1999). Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567
  5. White & Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). BOU Check-list Ser. 7: 1-524. London.

Recommended Citation

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Green_Figbird&oldid=249254’
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